By Andrew Goudsward
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Rudy Giuliani goes to trial on Monday in a civil defamation case that could force him to pay millions of dollars to two Georgia election workers he falsely accused of working to rig the 2020 presidential election against Donald Trump.
A federal judge has already determined that the former New York mayor and Trump lawyer is liable for defaming Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, a voter registration officer, and her mother Ruby Freeman, who was a temporary worker for the election. The only question for the jury is how much Giuliani will owe in damages.
Moss and Freeman accused Giuliani of orchestrating a “sustained smear campaign” by falsely accusing them of election fraud as Giuliani searched for evidence to bolster Trump’s effort to overturn his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. The pair are expected to testify at the trial, which is due to conclude this week.
Giuliani, who is required to attend the trial, also may take the witness stand. His lawyer intends to argue that Giuliani’s remarks had a minimal connection to the harm Moss and Freeman suffered.
Giuliani spokesperson Ted Goodman said the case is politically motivated.
“I urge members of the legal community and all Americans —across the partisan political spectrum — to stand up and speak out against the weaponization of our justice system against political opponents,” he said in a statement.
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