Giuliani Agrees to Stop Defaming Freeman and Moss
Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and personal lawyer to Donald Trump, agreed on Thursday to cease defaming two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea Moss. Giuliani previously accused them of helping to steal the 2020 election. This settlement allows him to retain his Florida condominium and Manhattan apartment.
Freeman and Moss, who won a $148 million judgment after a judge ruled that Giuliani defamed them by falsely claiming they helped Joe Biden win with illegal ballots, confirmed they received compensation as part of the settlement. They did not disclose specific details about the compensation. Despite the settlement, Giuliani maintained that he admitted no liability or wrongdoing.
Legal Consequences and Settlement Details
Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court in Washington recently found Giuliani in contempt for defaming Freeman and Moss again. This marked the second contempt ruling against him in this legal battle. Giuliani, who declared bankruptcy last year after the hefty judgment, managed to avoid trial by agreeing to the settlement. The trial would have determined whether he needed to hand over assets, including his Palm Beach condominium and three New York Yankees World Series rings.
Giuliani had already surrendered some assets, including his Manhattan apartment, to help pay the judgment. However, the settlement allows him to retain his Palm Beach condominium and Manhattan apartment. His son, Andrew Giuliani, who received the World Series rings as gifts, will keep them.
Statements from Both Parties
Outside the federal courthouse in Manhattan, Giuliani’s lawyer, Joseph Cammarata, read a statement from Giuliani. In it, Giuliani emphasized their mutual agreement to never speak about each other in a defamatory manner again. He urged others to follow the same course.
Freeman and Moss also issued a statement, expressing relief and the ability to move forward with their lives. They confirmed they allowed Giuliani to retain his properties in exchange for compensation and his promise not to defame them again.
A Tarnished Legacy
Giuliani’s accusations stemmed from a 2021 lawsuit in Washington, where Freeman and Moss alleged he damaged their reputations by falsely claiming surveillance footage showed them manipulating ballots at an Atlanta voting site. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman in Manhattan was set to preside over the trial, but the settlement prevented it.
