Lawyers played audio recordings of graphic and racist threats received by two women after Rudy Giuliani falsely accused them of fraud while pushing Donald Trump’s baseless claims after the 2020 election.
The recordings were part of the opening statements in a federal case that will determine how much Mr Giuliani might have to pay the women in damages.
The former New York City mayor has already been found liable in the defamation lawsuit brought by Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea Shaye Moss, who endured threats and harassment after they became the target of a conspiracy theory spread by Mr Trump and his allies.
The women’s lawyers estimated that reputational damages could reach 47 million dollars (37 million), and suggested emotional and punitive damages on top of that could be “tens of millions”.
Mr Giuliani’s lawyer said any award should be much less.
The recordings played by the lawyers included threats accusing the women of treason and threats to their lives.
The women got hundreds of similar calls, text messages and emails, said attorney Von DuBose.
People also showed up at Ms Freeman’s home to pound on her door and at her mother’s house to make “citizen’s arrests,” Mr DuBose said.
“Mr Giuliani and his co-conspirators stole the lives Ms Moss and Ms Freeman by destroying their names,” Mr DuBose said.
Ms Freeman and Ms Moss’s lawyers also played recordings of Mr Giuliani falsely accusing them of sneaking in ballots in suitcases, counting ballots multiple times...
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