A federal judge held Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court on Friday for continuing to defame two former Georgia poll workers, whom the former Trump lawyer alleged added fake ballots to the vote count in Fulton County during the 2020 election.
U.S. District judge Beryl Howell in Washington, D.C., found Giuliani violated court orders that prohibited him from defaming Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, in regards to their alleged efforts to help steal the election from President-elect Donald Trump over four years ago. The Obama-appointed judge warned Giuliani that any future violations would mean jail time.
“It is outrageous and shameful that Mr. Giuliani dares to suggest that he is the one who is being treated unfairly,” Howell said.
In December 2023, Moss and Freeman successfully sued Giuliani for defamation after he accused them of election fraud. The mother-daughter duo won a $148 million judgment against the Trump ally, who was ordered last year to turn over his New York City apartment, 26 luxury watches, a 1980 Mercedes-Benz, and other expensive possessions to help pay off the damages.
Facing numerous legal setbacks, Giuliani has been fighting the plaintiffs’ efforts to seize his $3.5 million condominium in Palm Beach, Fla. Giuliani argues he should keep the condo because it is his primary residence. Moss and Freeman hold a lien on that property.
On Monday, U.S. District judge Lewis Liman in New York held the former New York City mayor in contempt for failing to turn over evidence by December 20 that would help the judge decide whether the defendant should keep his Florida condo.
Friday’s order marked the second time this week that Giuliani found himself held in contempt of court related to the defamation case.
Moss and Freeman claim they have endured emotional distress after Giuliani’s allegations of election fraud. As a result, the mother and daughter say they were subjected to racist threats and harassment, which prompted Freeman to leave her home in January 2021 after the FBI told her she wasn’t safe.
Meanwhile, Giuliani argues the legal case against him constitutes politicized lawfare and vows to keep fighting.
In response to Judge Howell’s threat of contempt and imprisonment, Giuliani called Friday’s hearing a farce.
“I don’t care what she did. She is a completely farcical judge,” he said after leaving the courtroom. “She didn’t consider a damn thing I said. She wrote it beforehand.”
Howell also threatened to impose daily fines of $200 within ten days if he doesn’t comply with her order to review trial testimony and other materials from the case.
“It was inevitable that Judge Beryl Howell’s sick obsession with J6 and all things Trump would become pathological. It’s now beyond,” Giuliani posted on X Saturday morning. “Howell threatening me with contempt and imprisonment if I don’t recite her dictated false version of covered-up massive evidence of voter fraud is an aggravated form of extortion and an old fashioned communist, fascist tactic.”
On top of his legal troubles regarding the defamation case, Giuliani lost his law license in New York and Washington, D.C., last year. The embattled Republican also faces criminal charges in Arizona and Georgia for allegedly spreading false claims about election fraud in 2020. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases.