Rudy Giuliani has been held in contempt by a federal judge for failing to produce court-ordered information in a defamation lawsuit filed by two former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. The workers are seeking $150 million in damages over Giuliani’s false claims after the 2020 presidential election.
The ruling, issued Monday by Judge Lewis Liman, comes as Giuliani faces mounting legal challenges, including a scheduled trial in less than two weeks concerning the ownership of his $3.5 million Palm Beach condominium.
Judge Liman determined that Giuliani’s failure to comply with court orders was deliberate, accusing him of stalling to delay the trial. “His noncompliance was willful,” Liman stated, adding that Giuliani’s justification—distrusting the plaintiffs’ counsel—was not a valid excuse for disregarding legal obligations.
“He has testified that he did not respond because he suspected the motives of plaintiff’s counsel. That is not an excuse for violating the court’s orders,” Liman said. “If there was reason to believe the plaintiff’s counsel misused discovery, he could raise that with the court. It was not an excuse to take the law into his own hands.”
The case revolves around Giuliani’s false accusations against Freeman and Moss, whom he alleged had manipulated votes in Atlanta to harm Donald Trump during the 2020 presidential election. Giuliani, a former New York City mayor and attorney for Trump, repeatedly made the baseless claims while working to challenge Trump’s loss in Georgia.
The defamation had severe repercussions for Freeman and Moss, who faced harassment and threats as a result. A jury in Washington, D.C., previously ruled that Giuliani’s statements caused significant harm and set the damages at $150 million.
This contempt ruling adds to Giuliani’s growing list of legal troubles. The former U.S. attorney and high-profile Trump ally is embroiled in several lawsuits and investigations. The upcoming trial concerning his Florida property adds further pressure to his already precarious legal and financial situation.
Freeman and Moss continue to pursue damages as they prepare for trial. Judge Liman’s contempt ruling underscores the court’s commitment to holding Giuliani accountable for his actions and ensuring compliance with legal proceedings.
