Rudy Giuliani Ordered to Pay $148 Million in Defamation Suit

• Shea Moss and Ruby Friedman receive a $148 million verdict.

• Verdict compensation for lies and smears by Rudy Giuliani.

• Giuliani maintains election lies without supporting evidence.

Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani speaks to reporters as he leaves his apartment building in New York, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. Giuliani on Friday, Sept. 1, pleaded not guilty to Georgia

AP

In a sudden turn of events, Shea Moss and Ruby Friedman, the two women at the center of the year 2020 election scandal, have triumphed with a $148 million verdict in their favor. The cause behind this massive award stemmed from what was labeled as lies and smears from Rudy Giuliani perpetuated during the 2020 election. The events of the misinformation campaign backed by Mr. Giuliani and News Corp's Mr. Murdoch have resulted in hefty costs.

Despite the adverse effects put into motion by the election scandal, Rudy Giuliani remains steadfast in his claims concerning dubious election activities, even without any clear evidence supporting his allegations. His belief in wrongdoings during the 2020 elections even ignored contrary statements from Republican election officials and his own Department of Justice officials. The controversy thus becomes the pivotal point of Donald Trump's reelection campaign.

Names like Ruby Freeman stand as a testament to the impact of this scandal. Ms. Freeman, who has resided in her home for the last 20 years, was forced to vacate due to looming threats. Although the award of $148 million is significant, it won't compensate for the loss of her home nor repair the damage done to the women's reputation.

The situation provides an important context to the present-day issue: the capacity of falsehoods to distort and disrupt an intricate system. This scandal also presents a crucial interaction between key players in this saga, notably Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump. Despite the heavy damage that the election scandal has cost News Corp and Mr. Giuliani in particular, their loyalty to Donald Trump remains unscathed.

The loyalty, however, appears to be unidirectional. While Mr. Giuliani remains loyal to Trump, the former president has yet to substantively aid Giuliani in his legal struggles, despite Giuliani's pleas. While the final outcome of the situation remains uncertain, the courtroom triumph of Moss and Friedman sends a powerful message against future misinformation and defamation campaigns. The verdict stands to remind other potential misclaimers of the heavy legal consequences that may follow.