Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and once a prominent attorney for ex-President Donald Trump, has made a significant concession in a court filing. He acknowledged that he had disseminated false statements about two Georgia election workers and their handling of ballots during the 2020 election. The admission came as part of a defamation lawsuit brought against Giuliani by Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, in the federal court in Washington, D.C.
In the recent court documents, Giuliani refrained from contesting the factual allegations, although he did not outright admit to the plaintiffs’ claims. He openly accepted that his previous statements were defamatory and false, carrying a meaning that could harm their reputation. However, he maintained that he believed he had legal defenses to counter the lawsuit and aimed to avoid unnecessary litigation expenses.
As of now, Giuliani’s attorney has not responded to inquiries seeking comment on the matter. Nonetheless, a Giuliani adviser, Ted Goodman, explained that the recent filings were aimed at advancing the case beyond the discovery phase and into the stage of legal arguments.
On the opposite side of the legal battle, Michael J. Gottlieb, the attorney representing Moss and Freeman, hailed Giuliani’s concession as a significant milestone in their pursuit of justice. He emphasized that the women had performed their civic duties in full compliance with the law during the 2020 presidential election. Furthermore, Gottlieb asserted that the allegations of election fraud made against them by Giuliani and former President Trump had been false from the outset. While certain aspects, such as damages, are still pending a court decision, the plaintiffs are optimistic about presenting the remaining case at the trial.
Giuliani had previously promoted a video purportedly showing Freeman and Moss tampering with ballots while working at the State Farm Arena for the Fulton County Board of Elections during the 2020 election. Following Trump’s election loss, he also accused the women of manipulating the election’s outcome.
In connection to these events, Trump himself is facing a criminal investigation in Fulton County, Georgia, relating to his and his allies’ efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. The investigation was triggered after a leaked phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which Trump mentioned Freeman 18 times and pushed for the election results to be overturned.
The dissemination of false accusations and conspiracy theories by Trump and his allies has had severe consequences for Moss and Freeman. Both women have been subjected to racist death threats, forcing them to go into hiding. Moss, who had been employed at the Fulton County Elections Department since 2017, had no choice but to leave her job due to the relentless threats.
Among the unfounded claims made by Giuliani was his assertion that Moss handed her mother a thumb drive “like they were vials of heroin or cocaine.” However, Moss herself testified before Congress that her mother had simply given her a ginger mint.
As the legal proceedings continue, Moss and Freeman are hopeful that the trial will provide them with the opportunity to seek justice and clear their names from the damaging and false accusations made against them.