In a significant turn of events, former New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani, has conceded that he made false statements against two Georgia election workers during the 2020 election. Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, a mother-daughter duo, had filed a defamation lawsuit against Giuliani for his baseless accusations. The recent court filings indicate Giuliani’s acknowledgment of the defamatory nature of his statements, although he still maintains he has legal defenses. This development marks a major milestone in the pursuit of justice for Moss and Freeman.
In a recent court filing, Rudy Giuliani has accepted that the statements he made about the alleged mishandling of ballots by Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss were untrue. Rudy Giuliani now recognizes that these statements were defamatory and actionable. The former mayor has refrained from contesting the factual allegations for the purpose of the ongoing litigation.
Despite acknowledging the defamatory nature of his statements, Rudy Giuliani maintains that he believes he has legal defenses against the lawsuit. He asserts that he wants to avoid unnecessary expenses in resolving what he perceives as unnecessary disputes. Additionally, Giuliani claims that his statements were constitutionally protected, suggesting he had the right to express his views.
The attorney representing Moss and Freeman, Michael J. Gottlieb, considers Giuliani’s stipulation a significant development. He emphasizes that the two election workers dutifully performed their civic duties in full compliance with the law, and the allegations of election fraud against them have been debunked since the beginning. The lawsuit will now proceed with other aspects, including the determination of damages.
Former President Donald Trump, who was represented by Giuliani, had also promoted a video purportedly showing Moss and Freeman manipulating ballots. This video and subsequent claims led to Moss and Freeman becoming targets of conspiracy theories and racist death threats. Trump himself mentioned Freeman multiple times during a leaked phone call, urging Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to overturn the state’s election results. As a result of these efforts to overturn the election, Trump is currently facing a criminal investigation in Fulton County, Georgia.
