Rudy Giuliani Appeals $148M Fulton Co. Defamation Case: Reports
By Amanda Lumpkin, Staff Writer
Rudy Giuliani Appeals Defamation Verdict
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani is courting controversy once more, lodging an appeal against a previous verdict that demanded he pay $148 million to two former Fulton County election workers in a defamation case, according to reports on Wednesday.
The ex-mayor, well-known for his time serving alongside former president Donald Trump, was accused of defaming the workers in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. Both USA Today and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on the filing of the appeal on Tuesday. However, the grounds on which Giuliani is appealing were not disclosed.
Former Fulton County Election Workers Sue Giuliani
Party to the defamation case are Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, election workers from Fulton County whose reputation Giuliani assailed with allegations of electoral fraud. The pair have taken Giuliani to court twice, alleging that he not only defamed them but also subjected them to harassment and propagated “false speech” about their conduct in the 2020 election.
According to USA Today, Freeman and Moss gave testimonies citing the consequences of Giuliani’s allegations, which they claimed spurred “racist and violent threats” against them.
A Network of Legal Battles
Beyond this defamation case, Giuliani is entwined in a complex web of legal issues. Among them, an indictment in Fulton alongside former client Donald Trump and 17 other defendants, with charges encompassing several racketeering and election interference allegations. The accused group are all said to have conspired to overturn the result of the 2020 election in the state of Georgia.
Political Aftermath and Community Reactions
News of the appeal has ignited a fervor of reactions from the Atlanta community, as this case not only has implications on the reputations of the involved parties but also feeds into the broader, ongoing national debate over the integrity of the 2020 elections.
This case aligns with a swarm of legal battles and investigations that continue to ravage the post-election landscape. The profound distrust on both sides of the aisle continues to impact the very core of American democracy even with the start of a new presidential term.
