Rudy Giuliani Satisfies Nearly $150 Million Defamation Judgment

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has resolved his $148 million defamation judgment with Georgia election workers.

Key Insights

Rudy Giuliani satisfied a $148 million defamation judgment involving two Fulton County election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
A federal jury found Giuliani liable in 2023 for defamation, civil conspiracy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The settlement allows Giuliani to retain his Florida condo and World Series rings while requiring him to stop defaming the election workers.
The case was dismissed in district court after Giuliani fulfilled his obligations, though specific financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Giuliani was previously disbarred in New York and Washington for his claims about the 2020 election.

Settlement Ends Long Legal Battle

Rudy Giuliani has satisfied a $148 million defamation judgment against him, concluding a contentious legal battle with two Fulton County election workers he made false accusations against regarding the 2020 election. The settlement, approved by Judge Lewis Liman in Manhattan federal court, allows Giuliani to retain his Florida condominium and prized New York Yankees World Series rings while agreeing to stop publicly defaming Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the mother-daughter pair who brought the lawsuit against him in December 2021.

The jury unanimously found Giuliani liable for defamation, civil conspiracy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, resulting in the $148 million judgment in December 2024. Giuliani began surrendering assets after the verdict, though the road to settlement was rocky, with the former mayor being held in contempt twice by federal judges for failing to comply with court orders and continuing to make defamatory statements about the election workers.

Giuliani has fully satisfied Georgia election workers' $148 million judgment https://t.co/HI9j08gO3U pic.twitter.com/w2jC36NtaB

— Reuters Legal (@ReutersLegal) February 24, 2025

Financial Resolution Remains Unclear

The terms of Giuliani’s compensation to Freeman and Moss were not publicly disclosed, leaving questions about how the former mayor managed to satisfy such a substantial judgment. The settlement came shortly after a social media post from former President Donald Trump raised $169,000 for Giuliani’s legal defense. However, Giuliani’s attorney did not comment on whether external financial assistance helped pay the settlement amount, maintaining the confidential nature of the agreement.

The settlement prevented a bench trial that could have forced Giuliani to relinquish more of his possessions and property. Court documents described the case as “fully satisfied,” though Giuliani did not admit guilt as part of the agreement. He did, however, issue a statement agreeing not to defame the election workers in the future and offered what some observers characterized as a mild apology for his previous accusations, which had led to harassment and threats against Freeman and Moss.

Other Legal and Professional Repercussions

This settlement represents just one chapter in Giuliani’s extensive legal difficulties stemming from the 2020 election. The former federal prosecutor and New York City mayor has been disbarred in New York and Washington D.C., ending his legal career in those jurisdictions. His efforts to seek bankruptcy protection were also unsuccessful, with the case being dismissed after judges found him evasive about disclosing his assets and financial situation.

Neither Giuliani nor representatives for Freeman and Moss provided additional comments on the settlement. The case’s resolution marks the end of a chapter for Giuliani, once celebrated as “America’s Mayor” following his leadership after the September 11, 2001 attacks, who has seen his reputation significantly diminished in recent years.