Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and ex-personal attorney to Donald Trump, filed for bankruptcy in New York after being ordered to pay a staggering $148 million in damages to Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, two election workers he falsely accused of tampering with election results.
Rudy Giuliani himself dismissed the verdict and told reporters outside the Washington federal courthouse that he would appeal, saying the “absurdity of the number merely underscores the absurdity of the entire proceeding.”
Court records reveal that Giuliani filed for bankruptcy in New York, listing nearly $152 million in debts, a staggering amount that includes legal fees and unpaid taxes. His assets, in contrast, are estimated to be between $1 million and $10 million.
This financial turmoil follows a court order requiring Giuliani to pay $148 million in damages to Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea “Shaye” Moss. The two election workers from Georgia’s Fulton County had been the target of false claims made by Giuliani, who accused them of tampering with election results. These baseless allegations led to a wave of racist harassment and threats against Freeman and Moss, both of whom are Black women.
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Speaking outside court, Ruby Freeman said: “Today’s a good day. A jury stood witness to what Rudy Giuliani did to me and my daughter and held him accountable, and for that I’m thankful. Today is not the end of the road, we still have work to do. Rudy Giuliani was not the only one who spread lies about us, and others must be held accountable too. But that is tomorrow’s work.”
Freeman’s daughter, Shaye Moss, also gave a statement, saying: “The flame that Giuliani lit with those lies and passed to so many others to keep that flame blazing changed every aspect of our lives – our homes, our family, our work, our sense of safety, our mental health. And we’re still working to rebuild.”
Ted Goodman, a political adviser to Giuliani, said: “The Rudy Giuliani you see today is the same man who took down the Mafia, cleaned up New York City, and comforted the nation following September 11th.”
Despite the bankruptcy filing and the massive damages awarded Freeman and Moss have filed another suit against Giuliani. They accuse him of continuing to defame them even after being found liable for the false statements he made about them and their role in the 2020 election. The new lawsuit alleges that Giuliani is engaging in a continuing course of repetitive false speech and harassment. This ongoing legal battle underscores the serious consequences of spreading false information and the potential for such actions to cause significant harm.
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