Giuliani Accused of New False Remarks About Georgia Poll Workers

Two Georgia poll workers who won a $148 million defamation judgment against Rudolph Giuliani accused the former New York mayor of making new, false statements about them during a livestream in April.

Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea’ Arshaye “Shaye” Moss won their defamation suit against Giuliani in December, just days before he filed for bankruptcy. The one-time adviser to former President Donald Trump last month asked the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York to let him pursue an appeal—his latest effort to reduce or vacate the award.

Not only is Giuliani’s most recent request a “flawed litigation tactic,” but the former mayor last month made false comments again accusing the Georgia poll workers of rigging the 2020 presidential election, even after losing the defamation suit and receiving subsequent warnings from the bankruptcy court, Freeman and Moss said in a Tuesday objection to his motion.

Giuliani on April 11 livestreamed a video of himself across social media platforms telling a crowd in Tulsa, Okla., he could provide evidence of the Georgia poll workers counting ballots multiple times, according to the filing.

“Giuliani’s remarks reflect his continued belief that laws and their consequences do not apply to him,” the filing said.

A spokesman for Giuliani didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

A committee of unsecured creditors also urged the court to deny Giuliani’s motion to pursue the appeal on Tuesday, saying creditors are being asked to “sit on their hands while he continually delays his day of reckoning, at their expense.”

Giuliani is wasting money in his bankruptcy proceedings by missing deadline extensions he himself requested, the committee said.

Just days after his livestream, Giuliani lost a bid in the US District Court for the District of Columbia to obtain a new trial or reduce the award for Freeman and Moss. He filed a notice of appeal on Monday of the original award and the April ruling.

Giuliani’s latest request to the bankruptcy court said the appeal would benefit his other creditors because he might be able to avoid or reduce the amount of the defamation judgment, making more funds available to pay down his debts. The former mayor has said he has about $10.6 million in assets up against nearly $153 million in liabilities, the bulk of which stems from the defamation award.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Dubose Miller LLC and United to Protect Democracy represent the poll workers. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP represents the committee. Berger, Fischoff, Sumer, Wexler & Goodman LLP represents Giuliani.

The case is In re: Rudolph W. Giuliani, Bankr. S.D.N.Y., No. 23-bk-12055, objection 5/7/24.