Election workers pursue contempt charges against Rudy Giuliani for ongoing defamatory remarks

Former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, who won a $146 million defamation judgment against Rudy Giuliani, are seeking civil contempt against him for continuing to falsely accuse them of election fraud. Despite a court-approved deal in May prohibiting him from making false claims about them, Giuliani has allegedly violated this injunction by making fresh false accusations. Freeman and Moss are seeking fines and penalties for his violations. Giuliani’s representative claims this motion is an attack on his First Amendment rights. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ordered Giuliani to respond to the motion by Dec. 2 and attend a hearing on Dec. 12. The pair sued Giuliani after he made false claims about them during his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results on behalf of Donald Trump. They were awarded $146 million in damages. Giuliani filed for bankruptcy but failed to surrender required financial information, leading to the dismissal of his case. He has begun surrendering assets, but challenges their claim to certain items. A trial is set for January 16, but Giuliani is seeking a delay due to unspecified “inauguration events” ahead of Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration. Moss and Freeman’s attorneys urge the judge to stick with the current trial date.

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