DLNews News Staff:

A federal judge has determined that Rudy Giuliani forfeits the defamation lawsuit from two Georgia election workers against him. The judge, Beryl Howell, sanctioned Giuliani and imposed a six-figure fine after the former New York City mayor failed to comply with discovery requests from the women, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. She said Giuliani is liable for the defamation and could face additional penalties if he fails to comply with future court orders.

The ruling by Howell is a significant blow to the former Donald Trump attorney, who is now seeking unspecified damages from Freeman and Moss for what they say were false claims of ballot fraud following the 2020 presidential election. The judge also noted that the election workers might seek to prove that his false claims about Dominion Voting Systems were made to enrich himself, an argument likely to be considered at a trial determining how much Giuliani owes the women in compensatory and punitive damages.

Giuliani sought to dismiss the lawsuit, but Howell denied his request in October. She accused the former Republican mayor of pushing a false narrative that the election was stolen from Trump and of targeting women in particular to spread those claims. She said Giuliani has "done enough to warrant a finding of liability for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy."

In his sworn testimony, Giuliani admitted that he had claimed that the women were planting fraudulent votes while they counted ballots at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The women claim that Giuliani's statements caused them to endure a living nightmare and a wave of hatred and violence that has left them fearful for their safety. The women filed the defamation suit in December 2021 against Giuliani, who was then one of Trump's top attorneys and confidant.

The lawsuit from the two women is just the latest in a series of legal actions stemming from baseless claims by Giuliani and others that the 2016 election was rigged against Trump due to widespread fraud. The accusations of fraud included erroneous assertions that Pennsylvania mailed more than 1.8 million ballots before the election, that there were dozens of underage voters, and that up to 2,500 felons and 800 dead people voted in the state.

The ruling against Giuliani is the most severe yet against the former NYC mayor and could lead to significant penalties for him if he fails to comply with future orders from the court. A trial to determine how much Giuliani owes Freeman and Moss for their damages is set for later this year or early 2024. The judge's ruling also demonstrates that it is essential for public figures to present factual evidence when making public statements that can damage reputations. This decision will likely serve as a warning to others who continue to spread baseless conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. It may also provide a model for other politicians and prominent figures considering making similar claims.