Editing Rudy Giuliani (section)

=== 2020 election lawsuits===
{{main|Post-election lawsuits related to the 2020 United States presidential election}}
[[File:Jenna Ellis and Rudy Giuliani.png|thumb|right|Giuliani with [[Jenna Ellis]] in November 2020]]
In November 2020, Trump placed Giuliani in charge of lawsuits related to alleged voter irregularities in the [[2020 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/trump-puts-personal-lawyer-rudy-giuliani-in-charge-of-all-election-lawsuits/ar-BB1b0rET|title=Trump puts personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in charge of all election lawsuits |work=The Independent|date=November 14, 2020|first=Graeme|last=Massie|access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> On November 7, Giuliani [[Rudy Giuliani's Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference|gave a press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping]] in Philadelphia to discuss challenging the vote count in Pennsylvania, during which media networks called the presidential election for Biden.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burns |first=Katelyn |date=November 8, 2020 |title=The Trump legal team's failed Four Seasons press conference, explained |work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/11/8/21555022/four-seasons-landscaping-trump-giuliani-philadelphia-press-conference |url-status=live |access-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115022307/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/11/8/21555022/four-seasons-landscaping-trump-giuliani-philadelphia-press-conference |archive-date=November 15, 2020}}</ref>  Trump designated Giuliani to lead a legal team to challenge the election results, telling Giuliani to "go wild" and "do anything you want" in his efforts to overturn them.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dorman |first=John L. |date=September 28, 2022 |title=Trump told Rudy Giuliani to 'go wild' and 'do anything you want' in seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election: book |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-giuliani-go-wild-2020-presidential-election-legal-fight-book-2022-9 |work=Business Insider |access-date=November 13, 2022}}</ref> This team{{snd}}a self-described "elite strike force" that included [[Sidney Powell]], [[Joseph diGenova]], [[Victoria Toensing]], and Trump campaign attorney [[Jenna Ellis]]{{spaces}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stracqualursi |first=Veronica |date=November 16, 2020|title=Trump puts Giuliani in charge of post-election legal fight after series of losses |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/14/politics/rudy-giuliani-trump-lawsuits-2020-election/index.html |access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cheney |first=Kyle |date=November 22, 2020 |title=Trump campaign cuts Sidney Powell from president's legal team |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/22/trump-campaign-sidney-powell-legal-439357|access-date=November 22, 2020 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref>{{snd}}appeared at a November 19 press conference in which they made numerous false and unsubstantiated assertions revolving around an international Communist conspiracy, rigged voting machines, and polling place fraud.<ref name="The Guardian-2020" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Subramaniam |first1=Tara |last2=Lybrand |first2=Holmes |date=November 19, 2020 |title=Fact checking Giuliani and the Trump legal team's wild, fact-free press conference|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/19/politics/giuliani-trump-legal-team-press-briefing-fact-check/index.html |access-date=November 20, 2020 |work=[[CNN]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Swanson |first=Ali |date=November 20, 2020 |title=AP Fact Check: Trump legal team's batch of false vote claims |url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-ap-fact-check-joe-biden-donald-trump-technology-5abd64917ef8be9e9e2078180973e8b3 |access-date=November 20, 2020 |work=[[Associated Press]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kessler |first=Glenn |date=November 19, 2020 |title=Analysis &#124; Fact-checking the craziest news conference of the Trump presidency |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/11/19/fact-checking-craziest-news-conference-trump-presidency/ |access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Farhi |first1=Paul |last2=Izadi |first2=Elahe |date=November 19, 2020 |title=Rudy Giuliani floated 'dangerous' and incendiary false claims of election conspiracy – and Fox News broadcast it live |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/rudy-giuliani-floated-dangerous-and-incendiary-false-claims-of-election-conspiracy--and-fox-news-broadcast-it-live/2020/11/19/0313eab6-2a9f-11eb-8fa2-06e7cbb145c0_story.html |access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref>

Giuliani repeatedly publicly denounced the use of [[provisional ballot]]s (in which the poll worker does not see the voter's name on the rolls, so the voter swears an affidavit oath that they are registered to vote), arguing that the practice enables fraud, although Giuliani himself had cast this type of ballot on October 31, 2020, in Manhattan.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Steck|first1=Em|last2=Kaczynski|first2=Andrew|date=January 18, 2021|title=Rudy Giuliani voted with an affidavit ballot, which he bashed in failed effort to overturn election|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/18/politics/rudy-giuliani-affidavit-ballot-vote-kfile/index.html|access-date=January 20, 2021|website=CNN}}</ref>

By January 8, 2021, Trump and his team had lost 63 lawsuits.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 8, 2021|title=PolitiFact – Joe Biden is right that more than 60 of Trump's election lawsuits lacked merit|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/jan/08/joe-biden/joe-biden-right-more-60-trumps-election-lawsuits-l/ |first1=Amy |last1=Sherman |first2=Miriam |last2=Valverde |access-date=September 24, 2021|website=[[PolitiFact]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Giuliani's associate Maria Ryan sent a letter to White House chief of staff [[Mark Meadows]] requesting that Giuliani be paid $2.5&nbsp;million and receive a "general [[pardon]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Papenfuss |first=Mary |date=August 21, 2022 |title=Associate Sought General Pardon For Rudy Giuliani From Trump — And Medal: Book |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudy-giuliani-associate-general-pardon-medal-trump-andrew-kirtzman-book_n_6301a6cce4b0e323a256327f |access-date=August 22, 2022 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> A month later, when Trump was out of office, Giuliani was no longer representing him in any pending cases, according to a Trump adviser.<ref name="Acosta-2021" /> While Trump continued to fundraise, purportedly for his election-related legal fights, as of the end of July 2021 he had not given any of this money to Giuliani.<ref>{{cite web |last=Papenfuss |first=Mary |date=August 2, 2021 |title=Rudy Giuliani Is Reportedly Almost Broke And Trump's Shutting Him Out |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudy-giuliani-trump-legal-fees-stiffed-dominion-lawsuit_n_61074e92e4b0d3b5897efc5c |access-date=August 2, 2021 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> In October 2021, in another context, Trump remarked: "I do pay my lawyers when they do a good job."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Polantz |first1=Katelyn |date=October 13, 2021 |title=Top conservative lawyers steer clear of Trump's latest legal fight |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/13/politics/conservative-lawyers-steer-clear-of-trump/index.html |access-date=October 13, 2021 |website=CNN}}</ref>

==== Pennsylvania lawsuit ====
One early lawsuit sought to invalidate up to 700,000 mail-in ballots and stop Pennsylvania from certifying its election results.<ref name="Mangan-2020" /> Giuliani said he had signed affidavits attesting to voter fraud and election official misconduct in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cant |first=Ash |title=Donald Trump's lawyer makes bombshell claim over 'evidence' of voter fraud |date=November 11, 2020 |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/donald-trumps-lawyer-makes-bombshell-claim-over-evidence-of-voter-fraud-112306960.html |work=Yahoo! News Australia |access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> Despite not having argued a case in any courtroom for over three decades,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-returns-courtroom-trump-b81328c5a74ab348d8b7e21f93eed3f9 |title=A rusty Giuliani returns to the courtroom on Trump's behalf|date=November 18, 2020|work=[[Associated Press]] |first1=Marc |last1=Levy |first2=Mark |last2=Scolford |access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref> Giuliani applied for special permission to represent the Trump presidential campaign in the federal court of Pennsylvania. In doing so, Giuliani misrepresented his status with the District of Columbia Bar in his application by stating that he was a member of the [[Bar (law)|bar]] in good standing, when in fact the District of Columbia had suspended him for nonpayment of fees.<ref name="Mangan-2020">{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/17/trump-lawyer-rudy-giuliani-asks-to-join-pennsylvania-vote-case.html|title='Disgraceful!' – Lawyer blasts Trump attorney Giuliani for seeking to toss Pa. votes to reverse Biden win|last1=Mangan|first1=Dan|last2=Breuninger|first2=Kevin|date=November 17, 2020|work=CNBC|access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref> In his first day in court on the case, which was November 17, 2020, Giuliani struggled with rudimentary legal processes and was accused by lawyers for the Pennsylvania Secretary of State of making legal arguments that were "disgraceful in an American courtroom".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/pennsylvania-defense-lawyers-shredded-rudy-giuliani-trump-election-lawsuit-2020-11|title=Pennsylvania lawyers shredded Rudy Giuliani's arguments in Trump's biggest election lawsuit, calling them 'disgraceful' and 'really inventive'|first1=Jacob|last1=Shamsian|first2=Sonam|last2=Sheth|date=November 17, 2020|work=Business Insider|access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref> Judge [[Matthew Brann]] questioned how Giuliani could justify "asking this court to invalidate some 6.8&nbsp;million votes thereby disenfranchising every single voter in the commonwealth."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/trump-pennsylvania-lawsuit-election-results-rudy-giuliani-hearing-case-williamsport-20201117.html|title=Rudy Giuliani and Trump's last-stand push to overturn Pa.'s election results get a frosty reception in court|first=Jeremy|last=Roebuck|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=November 17, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref>

His federal lawsuit against Pennsylvania was dismissed [[Prejudice (legal term)|with prejudice]] on November 21, 2020, with the judge citing "strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations" which were "unsupported by evidence". Giuliani and Jenna Ellis reacted by stating that the ruling "helps" the Trump campaign "get expeditiously to the U.S. Supreme Court". They also pointed out that the judge, [[Matthew W. Brann]], was "Obama-appointed", though Brann is also a Republican and a former member of the right-leaning [[Federalist Society]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Roebuck|first=Jeremy|date=November 21, 2020|title='Not how the Constitution works': Federal judge tosses Trump suit seeking to disrupt Pa. election results|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania-election-lawsuit-trump-dismissed-matthew-brann-certification-vote-results-20201121.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122042037/https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania-election-lawsuit-trump-dismissed-matthew-brann-certification-vote-results-20201121.html|archive-date=November 22, 2020|access-date=December 10, 2020|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Swaine|first=Jon|title=In scathing opinion, federal judge dismisses Trump campaign lawsuit in Pennsylvania |date=November 21, 2020 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-judge-dismisses-trump-campaign-lawsuit-in-pa/2020/11/21/cc097fbe-2c50-11eb-9b14-ad872157ebc9_story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122031105/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-judge-dismisses-trump-campaign-lawsuit-in-pa/2020/11/21/cc097fbe-2c50-11eb-9b14-ad872157ebc9_story.html|archive-date=November 22, 2020|access-date=December 10, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

The Trump campaign appealed the lawsuit to the [[Third Circuit Court of Appeals]], where a three-judge panel on November 27 rejected the Trump campaign's attempt to undo Pennsylvania's vote certification, because the Trump campaign's "claims have no merit".<ref name="Watson-2020">{{cite news|last1=Watson|first1=Kathryn|date=November 28, 2020|title=Trump loses appeal in Pennsylvania: 'Calling an election unfair does not make it so'|work=[[CBS News]]|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pennsylvania-appeal-loss-2020-election/|url-status=live|access-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128161317/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pennsylvania-appeal-loss-2020-election/|archive-date=November 28, 2020}}</ref> The panel also ruled that the District Court was correct in preventing the Trump campaign from conducting a second amendment of its complaint.<ref name="Watson-2020" /> An amendment would be pointless, ruled the judges, because the Trump campaign was not bringing facts before the court, and not even alleging fraud. Judge [[Stephanos Bibas]] highlighted that Giuliani himself told the district court that the Trump campaign "doesn't plead fraud", and that this "is not a fraud case".<ref>{{cite news|date=November 28, 2020|title=U.S. appeals court rejects Trump appeal over Pennsylvania race |first=Maryclaire |last=Dale |work=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-pennsylvania-elections-philadelphia-d9c96c4593ec278f3b1d4bc564068df6 |access-date=December 10, 2020}}</ref> The panel concluded that neither "specific allegations" nor "proof" was provided in this case, and that the Trump campaign "cannot win this lawsuit".<ref name="Watson-2020" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Scannell|first=Kara|date=November 27, 2020|title=Federal appeals court slams Trump campaign efforts to turn tide in Pennsylvania ruling, saying 'claims have no merit'|work=[[CNN]]|url=https://lite.cnn.com/en/article/h_7b19716ee9d6faa1fb9171e7e318c9bf|url-status=live|access-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127224950/http://lite.cnn.com/en/article/h_7b19716ee9d6faa1fb9171e7e318c9bf|archive-date=November 27, 2020}}</ref>

Giuliani and Ellis reacted to the appeals court ruling by condemning the "activist judicial machinery in Pennsylvania".<ref name="Watson-2020" /> Of the three Appeal Court judges, Stephanos Bibas, who delivered the opinion, was appointed by Trump himself, while judges [[D. Brooks Smith]] and [[Michael Chagares]] were appointed by Republican president [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cheney|first1=Kyle|last2=Gerstein|first2=Josh|date=November 27, 2020|title='Voters, not lawyers, choose the president': Appeals court shoots down Trump suit in Pennsylvania|work=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/27/appeals-court-trump-campaign-pennsylvania-440813|url-status=live|access-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128233811/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/27/appeals-court-trump-campaign-pennsylvania-440813|archive-date=November 28, 2020}}</ref>

==== Dominion and Smartmatic lawsuits ====
{{see also|Dominion v. Fox News Network}}
As part of Giuliani's allegations that voting machines had been rigged, he made several false assertions about two rival companies, [[Dominion Voting Systems]] and [[Smartmatic]]. These false claims included that Smartmatic owned Dominion; that Dominion voting machines used Smartmatic software; that Dominion voting machines sent vote data to Smartmatic at foreign locations; that Dominion was founded by the former socialist Venezuelan leader [[Hugo Chávez]]; and that Dominion is a "radical-left" company with connections to [[Antifa (United States)|antifa]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kessler|first=Glenn|date=November 16, 2020|title=Giuliani's fantasy parade of false voter-fraud claims|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/11/16/giulianis-fantasy-parade-false-voter-fraud-claims/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116145243/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/11/16/giulianis-fantasy-parade-false-voter-fraud-claims/|archive-date=November 16, 2020|access-date=November 16, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Dan |last=MacGuill |date=November 20, 2020 |title=Did a Dominion Voting Systems Employee Brag About Rigging the Election Against Trump?|url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/eric-coomer-dominion-trump/|access-date=November 21, 2020|website=[[Snopes]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Both companies sued Giuliani and Fox News. Dominion filed a defamation lawsuit against Giuliani in January 2021,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Polantz |first1=Katelyn |date=January 25, 2021 |title=Dominion sues Giuliani for $1.3 billion over 'Big Lie'|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/25/politics/dominion-lawsuit-giuliani/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=January 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/11/politics/defamation-lawsuits-sidney-powell-rudy-giuliani-mike-lindell/index.html |access-date=December 20, 2023 |title=Judge allows defamation lawsuits against Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani and MyPillow CEO to go forward |first1=Katelyn |last1=Polantz |website=CNN |date=August 11, 2021}}</ref> and separately sued Fox News for $1.6 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Folkenflik |first1=David |last2=Romo |first2=Vanessa |date=May 18, 2021 |title=Fox News Moves To Have Dominion Voting Systems Lawsuit Dismissed |language=en |work=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/05/18/998099249/fox-news-moves-to-have-dominion-voting-systems-lawsuit-dismissed |access-date=September 24, 2021}}</ref> Fox News settled the case, ''[[Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network]]'', for $787.5&nbsp;million;<ref>{{cite news |first1=Helen |last1=Coster |first2=Jack |last2=Queen |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/dominions-defamation-case-against-fox-poised-trial-after-delay-2023-04-18/ |title=Fox settles Dominion lawsuit for $787.5 million over US election lies |work=[[Reuters]] |date=April 19, 2023 |access-date=December 20, 2023 }}</ref> the company's lawsuits against Giuliani and [[Sidney Powell]] for their election-related lies are still active {{As of|2023|August|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N39S1UF/ |title=Dominion lawsuits against Giuliani and Powell still active |work=Reuters Fact Check |access-date=December 20, 2023 |date=August 11, 2023 }}</ref>

On February 4, 2021, Smartmatic sued Giuliani, Fox News and some of its hosts, and Powell, accusing them of engaging in a "disinformation campaign" against the company; the company sought $2.7{{spaces}}billion in damages.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Darcy |first1=Oliver |date=February 4, 2021 |title=Voting technology company Smartmatic files $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox News, Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell over 'disinformation campaign' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/04/media/smartmatic-fox-news-giuliani-powell-lawsuit/index.html |access-date=February 5, 2021|website=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Shalvey|first=Kevin|date=June 19, 2021|title=Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and Fox News have August date confirmed for court bid to dismiss $2.7 billion Smartmatic lawsuit|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/rudy-giuliani-sidney-powell-fox-news-smartmatic-lawsuit-dismissal-ny-2021-6|access-date=August 2, 2021|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}</ref> A New York State Supreme Court judge, in March 2022, denied the defendants' motion to dismiss, ruling that the Smartmatic's defamation suit against Fox News and Giuliani could proceed; however, the court dismissed two of the sixteen counts against Giuliani.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stempel |first1=Jonathan |title=Smartmatic can pursue election-rigging claims against Fox News, Giuliani |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/smartmatic-can-pursue-election-rigging-claims-against-fox-news-giuliani-2022-03-08/ |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=December 20, 2023 |date=March 8, 2022}}</ref> In February 2023, the [[New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division|Appellate Division]] reinstated the two counts.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jacob |last=Shamsian |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/rudy-giuliani-more-counts-smartmatic-defamation-lawsuit-2023-2 |title=Rudy Giuliani gets hit with 2 more counts in Smartmatic's defamation lawsuit |work=Business Insider |date=February 14, 2023 |access-date=December 20, 2023 }}</ref>

On September 10, 2021, Fox News told Giuliani that neither he nor his son Andrew would be allowed on their network for nearly three months.<ref>{{cite web |last=Palmeri |first=Tara |date=September 24, 2021 |title=POLITICO Playbook: Scoop: Fox to Rudy: You're banned |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2021/09/24/scoop-fox-to-rudy-youre-banned-494458 |access-date=September 24, 2021 |website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref>

====Judgment for defaming Georgia election workers ====
In December 2021, two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter [[Wandrea' ArShaye Moss]], sued Giuliani in [[United States District Court for the District of Columbia|DC]] for defamation,<ref>{{cite news |last=Thanawala |first=Sudhin |date=December 23, 2021 |title=Georgia Election Workers Sue Rudy Giuliani, OAN Over Election Fraud Claims |language=en |website=HuffPost |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/georgia-election-workers-oan-rudy-giuliani_n_61c50aaee4b04b42ab69e90e |access-date=December 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeong |first=Andrew |date=December 24, 2021 |title=Rudy Giuliani and One America News sued by Georgia poll workers falsely accused of electoral fraud |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/12/24/trump-giuliani-oann-election-fraud/ |access-date=December 26, 2021 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> after Giuliani falsely accused them of manipulating vote tallies.<ref name="Sullivan-2023">{{cite news |first=Eileen |last=Sullivan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/15/us/politics/rudy-giuliani-defamation-trial-damages.html |title=Jury Orders Giuliani to Pay $148 Million to Election Workers He Defamed |access-date=December 20, 2023 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> He has accused them of "passing around [[USB flash drive|USB ports]] as if they were vials of heroin or cocaine" and engaging in "surreptitious illegal activity," citing video footage that, according to Moss, actually showed the women with "a ginger [[Mint (candy)|mint]]".<ref>{{cite news |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=June 21, 2022 |title=Giuliani told Arizona official 'We just don't have the evidence' of voter fraud |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/21/giuliani-no-evidence-voter-fraud-arizona-jan-6-commitee |access-date=June 22, 2022}}</ref> [[Public hearings of the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack|Moss testified]] before the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] that after Giuliani's remarks she and her family were subjected to a barrage of racist threats, including "Be glad it's 2020 and not 1920," in reference to [[lynching in the United States]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=June 21, 2022 |title='There's nowhere I feel safe': Georgia elections workers describe how Trump upended their lives |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/21/january-6-hearings-georgia-elections-workers-mother-daughter-testify |access-date=June 22, 2022}}</ref>

In July 2023, Giuliani was ordered to pay attorneys' fees to the election workers after being sanctioned for failing to turn over evidence in the case.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Durkee |first=Alison |date=July 6, 2023 |title=Rudy Giuliani Forced To Pay $89K In Attorneys Fees For 2020 Defamation Case |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/07/06/rudy-giuliani-forced-to-pay-89k-in-attorneys-fees-for-2020-defamation-case/ |access-date=July 8, 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> Later that month, Giuliani admitted his statements had been "defamatory per se" yet denied they had caused "any damages".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Wagner |first1=John |last2=Wang |first2=Amy B. |date=July 26, 2023 |title=Giuliani not contesting making false statements about Georgia election workers |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/07/26/rudy-giuliani-false-statements-georgia/ |access-date=July 26, 2023}}</ref> On August 4, the judge asked him to explain why he was still fighting the lawsuit, given his admission.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn |date=August 5, 2023 |title=Judge questions Giuliani over not forfeiting lawsuit after conceding false 2020 election statements |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/05/politics/giuliani-lawsuit-2020-election/index.html |access-date=August 8, 2023 |website=CNN Politics |language=en}}</ref> Due to his failure to produce documents, U.S. District Judge [[Beryl Howell]] issued an order on August 30 ruling that he forfeited his case by [[Civil discovery under United States federal law|failing to comply with his discovery obligations]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Polantz |first1=Katelyn |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Giuliani loses defamation lawsuit from two Georgia election workers |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/30/politics/rudy-giuliani-georgia-election-workers/index.html |access-date=December 20, 2023 }}</ref> Meanwhile, the court increased what he owed for the plaintiffs' legal fees,<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Rudy Giuliani Loses Georgia Poll Workers' Defamation Suit By Default, Judge Rules |first=Nina |last=Golgowski |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/giuliani-loses-election-defamation-suit-default_n_64ef6233e4b0ca54cc6bd5f3 |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> and he did not immediately pay.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn |date=September 22, 2023 |title=Rudy Giuliani fails to pay more than $132,000 in sanctions in defamation lawsuit from two Georgia election workers |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/22/politics/giuliani-defamation-lawsuit-sanctions/index.html |access-date=September 22, 2023 |website=CNN Politics |language=en}}</ref> The plaintiffs subsequently requested money to cover additional attorneys' fees that arose from discovery disputes during the case.<ref name="Cohen-2023">{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Marshall |date=September 8, 2023 |title=Rudy Giuliani files new legal challenge to Georgia election interference case |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/08/politics/giuliani-georgia-election-interference-case-challenge/index.html |access-date=September 9, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> The judge again increased what Giuliani owed; the total was over $230,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn |date=September 22, 2023 |title=Giuliani now owes over $230,000 after defaming two Georgia election workers |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/22/politics/giuliani-defamation-lawsuit-sanctions/index.html |access-date=September 22, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

On October 13, the judge said that due to Giuliani's "continued and flagrant disregard of this Court's August 30 order that he produce financial-related documents concerning his personal and his businesses' past and present assets", she would tell the jurors that he intentionally hid financial documents in defiance of court orders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gregorian |first=Dareh |date=October 14, 2023 |title=Judge punishes Rudy Giuliani for flagrant disregard of court orders |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/judge-punishes-rudy-giuliani-flagrant-disregard-court-orders-rcna120412 |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> On December 5, 2023, Giuliani did not appear at a federal court pretrial hearing. Freeman and Moss attended. Giuliani's lawyer, Joseph Sibley IV, told the judge he had not understood that Giuliani's presence was required and that it was "my mistake";<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cheney |first=Kyle |date=December 5, 2023 |title=Giuliani's no-show prevents courtroom confrontation with Georgia election workers |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/05/rudy-giuliani-georgia-defamation-hearing-00130156 |access-date=December 6, 2023 |website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref> the judge criticized Giuliani's failure to appear.<ref>{{cite web|first=Katelyn |last=Polantz|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/05/politics/rudy-giuliani-hearing/index.html |title=Judge chastises Rudy Giuliani for failing to appear at hearing ahead of defamation damages trial |access-date=December 20, 2023 |website=CNN |date=December 6, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=December 20, 2023 |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1773209/dc-judge-slams-giuliani-no-show-in-pretrial-hearing |first=Ali |last=Sullivan |title=DC Judge Slams Giuliani No-Show In Pretrial Hearing |website=Law360 |date=December 5, 2023}}</ref>

The trial began on December 11. During the trial on the amount of damages, the plaintiffs' testified that Giuliani's false statements, beginning with one of his tweets, prompted a barrage of threatening phone calls and messages against them, including many that were violent, vulgar, or racist.<ref name="Sullivan-2023"/> They also testified that Giuliani's lies caused others to show up at Freeman's home, to attempt to conduct a "[[citizen's arrest]]" of Moss at her grandmother's home, and to barrage Moss' teenage son with cell phone messages.<ref name="Sullivan-2023"/> During the trial, Giuliani publicly repeated his false claim that Freeman and Moss "were engaged in changing votes"<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Iyer |first1=Kaanita |last2=Polantz |first2=Katelyn |last3=Lybrand |first3=Holmes |last4=Cole |first4=Devan |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Georgia election workers ask judge to lecture Rudy Giuliani after he repeats election claims judge ruled were defamatory |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/11/politics/rudy-giuliani-defamation-trial/index.html |access-date=December 13, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> and claimed that "When I testify, the whole story will be definitively clear that what I said was true."<ref name="Grenoble-2023">{{Cite web |last=Grenoble |first=Ryan |date=December 14, 2023 |title=Giuliani Won't Testify, Despite Pledge To 'Definitively Clear' His Name By Doing So |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudy-giuliani-defamation-trial-wont-testify_n_657b1ca6e4b020f3b6741772 |access-date=December 14, 2023 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> However, Giuliani ultimately declined to testify,<ref name="Sullivan-2023"/><ref name="Grenoble-2023"/> and his defense team called no witnesses.<ref name="Grenoble-2023"/> Giuliani's attorney pointed to another defamation lawsuit Freeman and Moss had filed against ''[[The Gateway Pundit]]'', saying the website had likely instigated the harassment against them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Leingang |first=Rachel |date=December 15, 2023 |title=Multimillion-dollar ruling against Giuliani shows cost of spreading election lies |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/15/rudy-giuliani-damages-cost-analysis-takeaways |access-date=December 16, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

On December 15, 2023, the federal jury ordered Giuliani to pay $148&nbsp;million to Freeman and Moss, including $75&nbsp;million in [[punitive damages]].<ref name="Sullivan-2023"/><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Legare |first1=Robert |last2=Ali |first2=Musa |date=December 15, 2023 |title=Rudy Giuliani must pay $148 million to 2 Georgia election workers he defamed, jury decides |work=[[CBS News]] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rudy-giuliani-verdict-defamation-trial-georgia-election-workers/ |access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> After the verdict, Giuliani said he regretted nothing and said he would appeal.<ref name="Sullivan-2023"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Levine |first1=Sam |title=Rudy Giuliani ordered to pay $148.1m in damages for lies about election workers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/15/rudy-giuliani-pay-damages-election-workers-defamation-trial |access-date=December 15, 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> One of his lawyers suggested he would file for bankruptcy.<ref name="Sullivan-2023"/> On December 20, concerned that Giuliani would hide his assets given the "ample record in this case of Giuliani’s efforts to conceal or hide his assets," Judge Beryl A. Howell ordered swift payment of the damages.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Feuer |first=Alan |date=2023-12-20 |title=Judge Orders Giuliani to Pay $148 Million Damage Award Immediately |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/20/us/politics/judge-giuliani-pay-damages.html |access-date=2023-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221044157/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/20/us/politics/judge-giuliani-pay-damages.html |archive-date=2023-12-21 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> On December 21, Giuliani filed for bankruptcy.<ref name="Reilly-2023">{{Cite web |last=Reilly |first=Mollie |date=2023-12-21 |title=Rudy Giuliani Files For Bankruptcy |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudy-giuliani-bankruptcy_n_65847b8de4b04da984263149 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref>

On December 18, Freeman and Moss sued Giuliani again, seeking an injunction to permanently prohibit him from defaming them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn |date=December 18, 2023 |title=Former Georgia election workers sue Rudy Giuliani again, asking judge to permanently stop him from lying about them |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/politics/georgia-election-workers-giuliani/index.html |access-date=December 19, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mangan |first=Dan |date=December 18, 2023 |title=Rudy Giuliani sued again by Georgia election workers seeking to bar more defamation |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/18/rudy-giuliani-sued-by-election-workers-over-defamation.html |access-date=December 19, 2023 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> They later agreed to drop this lawsuit in exchange for Giuliani's promise never again to state, imply, or assist others' remarks that they "engaged in wrongdoing in connection with the 2020 presidential election".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn |date=2024-05-21 |title=Giuliani agrees to stop spreading 2020 vote-tampering lies about Georgia election workers |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/21/politics/giuliani-freeman-moss-agreement/index.html |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2024, Freeman and Moss accused Giuliani of taking unfair advantage of the bankruptcy system in a court filing, with their attorneys calling Giuliani's approach "a flawed, impermissible litigation tactic from an actor with a history of engaging the judicial system in bad faith."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn |date=2024-01-18 |title=Georgia election workers accuse Rudy Giuliani of taking advantage of bankruptcy system |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/18/politics/georgia-election-workers-rudy-giuliani/index.html |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2024-01-18 |title=Rudy Giuliani Accused of Using Bankruptcy Filing to Stiff the Election Workers He Owes $148 Million |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/rudy-giuliani-accused-of-using-bankruptcy-filing-to-stiff-the-election-workers-he-owes-148-million |access-date=2024-01-19 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}</ref> In February, Giuliani testified about his finances.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Woodward |first=Alex |date=2024-02-08 |title=Rudy Giuliani lays his finances bare at bizarre bankruptcy hearing |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/rudy-giuliani-bankruptcy-hearing-donald-trump-b2492575.html |access-date=2024-05-22 |work=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> In March, creditors filed a motion to force him to sell his Florida condo to pay the judgment.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Picciotto |first1=Rebecca |title=Creditors demand Rudy Giuliani sell his $3.5 million Florida condo to pay debts |date=March 16, 2024 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/16/rudy-giuliani-should-sell-3point5-million-florida-condo-creditors-claim.html |publisher=[[CNBC]] |access-date=March 19, 2024}}</ref> In April, he lost his bid to dismiss the judgment against him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rudy-giuliani-loses-bid-dismiss-148-million-defamation/story?id=109264527|title=Rudy Giuliani loses bid to dismiss $148 million defamation judgment in Georgia election workers case|date=April 16, 2024|access-date=April 21, 2024|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|last=Osborne|first=Mark}}</ref> A bankruptcy court hearing was set for July 10 to address his creditors' request to put his funds under the control of an independent trustee so they could begin to collect what they were owed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn |date=2024-07-09 |title=Angry creditors want Giuliani's assets taken out of his control |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/09/politics/angry-creditors-giuliani-assets/index.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> On July 12, the judge, citing Giuliani's lack of transparency over the previous six months of litigation, said he was no longer entitled to bankruptcy protection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn |date=2024-07-12 |title=Judge dismisses Giuliani's bankruptcy case, allowing creditors to try to seize his assets |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/12/politics/judge-dismisses-giuliani-bankruptcy-case/index.html |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> On July 31, Giuliani and his creditors revised their agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 31, 2024 |title=In re Rudolph W. Giuliani, No. 23-12055 (SHL) |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysb.319064/gov.uscourts.nysb.319064.308.0.pdf |access-date=August 1, 2024 |website=Court Listener}}</ref>

On October 22, a federal judge in Manhattan ordered Giuliani to turn over his $6 million Manhattan penthouse apartment and other valuable possessions to Freeman and Moss.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn |date=2024-10-22 |title=Rudy Giuliani must give control of luxury items and Manhattan apartment to Georgia election workers he defamed, judge rules |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/22/politics/rudy-giuliani-bankruptcy-georgia-election-workers/index.html |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Eileen |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Giuliani Ordered to Forfeit Millions in Assets to Workers He Defamed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/22/us/politics/giuliani-defamation-forfeit-assets.html |work=The New York Times |page=A22 |language=en-US |volume=174 |issue=60316 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Giuliani may also need to surrender his $3.5 million primary residence in Palm Beach, Florida.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn |date=2024-10-28 |title=Judge to determine whether Rudy Giuliani must turn over his $3.5 million Florida condo to the election workers he defamed |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/28/politics/rudy-giuliani-florida-condo-defamation-lawsuit/index.html |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> On October 29, Giuliani told the court that his valuables were “being held for wherever Plaintiffs request.” On October 31, Freeman and Moss visited Giuliani’s apartment so they could see the property inside, as they needed to assess how they would move and store it. They discovered that, four weeks earlier, the apartment had been emptied of "the vast majority (if not all) of the valuable receivership property that was known to be stored there," a fact that, as they told the court, "neither Defendant nor Defendant’s counsel had bothered to mention." Giuliani's lawyers told them that some unspecified property was in a storage facility on [[Long Island]] and that his vintage Mercedes (formerly owned by [[Lauren Bacall]]) was somewhere in Florida. Additionally, Giuliani’s lawyers provided bank statements showing that a large amount of money had been transferred out of his bank account in July and August and that less than $4,000 remained in the account.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nathan |first=Aaron |date=November 4, 2024 |title=Re: Freeman et al. v. Giuliani, No. 24-mc-353 (LJL) |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.626017/gov.uscourts.nysd.626017.81.0.pdf |access-date=November 5, 2024}}</ref>

At an in-person hearing on November 7, Giuliani's lawyer proposed that the Mercedes might be worth under $4,000, meaning that Giuliani would be allowed to keep it. Giuliani claimed he had no idea of the whereabouts of his other valuables. The judge gave Giuliani until November 15 to turn over his property to the plaintiffs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kates |first=Graham |date=2024-11-07 |title=Judge scolds Giuliani for not turning over assets to two women, including car he's driving |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rudy-giuliani-bankruptcy-fight-valuables/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref> Two days before that deadline, lawyers Kenneth Caruso and David Labowsky told the judge they did not want to represent Giuliani anymore,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-14 |title=Rudy Giuliani's Lawyers Are Bailing On Him |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudy-giulianis-lawyers-tell-judge-they-want-to-quit-on-him_n_6734e081e4b0958bad3dd876 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> and Freeman and Moss learned that the Long Island storage unit contained 20 pallets of moving boxes and furniture. Lawyer Joseph Cammarata took on Giuliani's case and told the court on November 15 that he had turned over the Mercedes (but not the title to it), 18 watches, a diamond ring, and had begun a process to turn over $30,000 in cash.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn |date=2024-11-15 |title=Rudy Giuliani has turned over his 1980 Mercedes-Benz convertible, luxury watch collection and a diamond ring to election workers he defamed |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/15/politics/rudy-giuliani-debt-collection-election-worker-defamation/index.html |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> A week later, the cash had still not arrived, and Freeman and Moss still did not have the keys to his apartment.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Buchman |first=Brandi |date=2024-11-23 |title=Things Just Got Even Weirder In The Rudy Giuliani Court Case |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudy-giuliani-election-workers-storage-unit_n_6740e18ce4b078cce4af30c9 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref>

On November 18, Freeman and Moss began to inventory the Long Island storage unit, and Giuliani’s lawyer Joseph Cammarata held a press conference outside the offices of Freeman and Moss's lawyers in New York City. On November 22, Freeman and Moss told U.S. District Judge [[Lewis Liman]] there had been attempts to "intimidate or interfere" with their access to the storage unit and that it was taking the form of a social media campaign against them.<ref name=":1" />

Giuliani's appeal was docketed on November 22.<ref name=":1" /> 

At a court hearing on November 26, plaintiffs said that Giuliani had yet to turn over nine additional watches. Giuliani said he had been unable to obtain a copy of the title to the Mercedes.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Reiss |first1=Adam |last2=Gregorian |first2=Dareh |date=2024-11-26 |title=Angry Rudy Giuliani argues with judge overseeing defamation payout: 'I can't pay my bills' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/angry-rudy-giuliani-argues-judge-overseeing-defamation-payout-cant-pay-rcna181723 |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

Giuliani was ruled in contempt by Liman at a hearing on January 3, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldin |first=Melissa |date=2024-12-29 |title=Rudy Giuliani faces contempt hearing as lawyers for election workers pursue $148M judgment |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/jan/03/rudy-giuliani-faces-contempt-hearing-as-lawyers-for-election-workers-pursue-148m-judgment/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The Columbian |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Buchman |first=Brandi |date=2025-01-06 |title=Rudy Giuliani Gets Bad News Just Ahead of His Trial |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudy-giuliani-held-in-contempt-by-judge_n_67781109e4b0f0fdb7b18059 |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> On January 10, Howell also found him in contempt for refusing to turn over financial records.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Lydia |date=2025-01-10 |title=Rudy Giuliani Found In Contempt Of Court For Second Time This Week |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudy-giuliani-contempt-of-court_n_67817da7e4b075a395308849 |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> She had delayed his civil contempt hearing by one month<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buchman |first=Brandi |date=2024-11-21 |title=Judge Schedules Hearing For Rudy Giuliani After Workers Say He Won't Stop Smearing Them |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/judge-sets-civil-contempt-hearing-for-rudy-giuliani-after-defamed-workers-say-he-cant-stop-smearing-them_n_673f8198e4b090a704c8d520 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> given his difficulties finding legal representation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abusaid |first=Shaddi |date=2025-01-03 |title=Rudy Giuliani can't hire a lawyer, and it's the judge's fault, he says |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/dec/12/rudy-giuliani-cant-hire-a-lawyer-and-its-the-judges-fault-he-says/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The Columbian |language=en-US}}</ref>

On January 16, the day of a scheduled trial before Liman to enforce payment, the parties settled. Giuliani kept his homes in exchange for compensating Freeman and Moss with an undisclosed amount of money and agreeing to refrain from defaming them again.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Neumeister |first1=Larry |last2=Sisak |first2=Michael |date=2025-01-16 |title=Rudy Giuliani Settles With Former Georgia Election Workers |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudy-giuliani-election-workers_n_67897113e4b0437012f40751 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref>