Rudy Giuliani's Defamation Damages Trial Poised to Commence in Washington DC

Rudy Giuliani's trial for defamation damages is scheduled to commence on Monday, as the court determines the financial restitution the former attorney for Donald Trump must provide to two election workers.

The four-day trial represents the final stage of a lengthy legal dispute between Giuliani and former Georgia election workers Wandrea "Shaye" Moss and Ruby Freeman. They have alleged that Giuliani defamed them after the 2020 election while he was leading Trump's legal team.

The upcoming trial in Washington, DC will publicly reveal the actions of Trump's lawyers and campaign for the first time before a jury. This comes as the ex-President is set to face criminal charges related to the 2020 election subversion effort. Giuliani's actions are also linked to the criminal allegations against Trump, with Trump, his legal team, and campaign considered co-conspirators in the defamation case.

Giuliani has already been found liable for defamation and is now required to pay over $230,000 after failing to respond to parts of the lawsuit. The plaintiffs are seeking tens of millions of dollars, alleging emotional and reputational harm, as well as endangerment to their safety, due to Giuliani singling them out with false claims of ballot tampering in Georgia.

The women are requesting the jury to consider awarding them a substantial amount between $15.5 million and $43 million, solely for the reputational harm caused by specific statements made about them by Giuliani, Trump, and his campaign. In addition, they are also seeking compensation for their emotional distress, legal fees, and a punitive fine to Giuliani as a deterrent for his outrageous behavior, making for a potentially significant sum.

It is anticipated that the former New York City mayor will testify in his defense, although his lawyer was unsure during a recent hearing if Giuliani would invoke his Fifth Amendment rights on the stand.

On the flip side, Moss and Freeman's team intends to present footage to the jury of additional Trump campaign officials, such as attorney Jenna Ellis, invoking the Fifth Amendment and refusing to answer questions during her deposition.

Former Georgia election worker Wandrea "Shaye" Moss is consoled by her mother, Ruby Freeman, during a hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on June 21, 2022. The hearing was held by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack.

Giuliani admitted in July that he had made defamatory statements about Moss and Freeman, but he tried to argue that his remarks did not harm the two women and that his comments on voter fraud in the 2020 Georgia election were protected speech. However, in August, Giuliani lost the lawsuit when Judge Beryl Howell of the US District Court in Washington, DC ruled that he had not complied with subpoenas for requested information.

Howell dismissed Giuliani's complaints about being overwhelmed by litigation expenses, referring to them as a "veil of victimhood."

CNN has previously disclosed that Giuliani is grappling with the financial burden of the numerous legal battles stemming from his involvement in Trump's post-2020 election activities. In a court filing in August, Giuliani stated that he is essentially penniless.

Giuliani hoped to alleviate some of the financial burden by putting his 3-bedroom Manhattan apartment on the market for $6.5 million. Howell used this as evidence that Giuliani had the means to cover the damages, along with a reimbursement from Trump and his travel expenses on a private plane during the Georgia election subversion case in Fulton County. This story has been revised to include new details.