“Giuliani Held in Contempt for Spreading Election Lies!”
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has held Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court for defying an order prohibiting him from making false and defamatory statements against two Georgia election workers. The workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, previously won a $148 million defamation judgment against Giuliani in 2023. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell criticized Giuliani for continuing to spread lies about the workers on his web show in November, expressing disbelief that the massive judgment had not deterred him.
“$148 million wasn’t a sufficient incentive to stop the defamation?” Howell asked Giuliani during the hearing.
The judge ordered Giuliani to file a declaration confirming he had reviewed the trial evidence and testimony and acknowledging that no government reports or evidence contradicted Freeman and Moss. Giuliani faces a $200 daily fine for failing to meet the deadline to submit the declaration. Howell warned that further violations could result in imprisonment or confinement.
“It is outrageous and shameful,” Howell said. “This takes real chutzpah, Mr. Giuliani.”
This ruling comes on the heels of another contempt order from a federal judge in New York after Giuliani failed to provide property and financial information to Freeman and Moss. In Friday’s hearing, Giuliani briefly took the stand to discuss bank records from his bankruptcy case, including his $3.5 million Palm Beach home, which he claimed is exempt from the case.
When questioned about his bank accounts, Giuliani stated, “They’re not my accounts; I don’t have access to them,” claiming his assets were frozen. He further argued, “Illegally, you have tied up everything I have.”
Attorney Michael Gottlieb, representing Freeman and Moss, highlighted that Giuliani made significant payments in November, the same month he made the defamatory statements. These included taxes and utility bills amounting to tens of thousands of dollars.
Michael Gottlieb, attorney for Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, argued that Rudy Giuliani’s assets—those he claims are exempt from creditor claims—should be used to enforce compliance with court orders.
“We haven’t been able to identify any other method we believe can coerce compliance,” Gottlieb said, adding, “The main thing the plaintiffs want is for Giuliani to stop defaming them.”
Judge Beryl Howell echoed concern about Giuliani’s continued behavior, warning that more severe penalties might be necessary. “I am very concerned, based on the statements made today, that Mr. Giuliani may not be deterred from making defamatory statements without more severe sanctions,” she said.
Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for Giuliani, issued a statement defending the former mayor. “The public should know that Mayor Rudy Giuliani never had the opportunity to defend himself on the facts in the defamation case,” Goodman said. “This is an important point that many Americans still don’t realize due to biased coverage and a campaign to silence Mayor Giuliani. This contempt ruling is designed to prevent Mayor Giuliani from exercising his constitutional rights.”