Former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani has opted out of testifying in the ongoing trial determining the extent of damages he should compensate two Georgia 2020 election workers for defamation.
A spokesperson for Giuliani confirmed to CNN on Thursday that he won’t be appearing before a Washington, D.C., jury for the case.
Acknowledging the defamatory nature of his statements about Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, Giuliani admitted in July. This admission came after the workers filed a lawsuit against him, leading to a default judgment against Giuliani in August.
The trial commenced on Monday to decide whether Giuliani should pay the $15.5 million to $43 million in damages sought by the women.
Giuliani already owes Freeman and Moss over $230,000 due to his lack of response to parts of their lawsuit. Even if the jury rules in their favor for damages, the actual amount they might receive remains uncertain, given Giuliani’s claim of severe financial strain due to numerous legal battles.
It’s important to note that this trial is distinct from the Georgia criminal case where Giuliani has pleaded not guilty to charges related to alleged attempts, alongside 18 others, including former President Donald Trump, to overturn the 2020 election.
During his closing statements, Joseph Sibley, representing Giuliani, emphasized Freeman and Moss’s perception of his client’s financial capacity, framing them as viewing Giuliani as having “deep pockets.”
Acknowledging the harm caused by a barrage of threatening messages directed at the women after Giuliani spread falsehoods about them, Sibley admitted, “I’m not saying Giuliani wasn’t responsible for some harm.”
However, Sibley highlighted that the plaintiffs viewed Giuliani as a symbol of substantial financial resources, countering the plaintiffs’ attorney’s assertion that Giuliani was “patient zero for the harm” inflicted on the women.
“I’m trying to show you that just because these things happened, and they certainly did happen, that doesn’t mean Giuliani is responsible for it all,” Sibley clarified.
Sibley also explained that Giuliani’s decision not to testify was made out of consideration for the plaintiffs. “We feel like these women have been through enough,” he conveyed to the jury.
During his closing arguments, Sibley drew upon Giuliani’s legacy as a federal prosecutor in New York and his tenure as mayor of the city to portray his client as a respectable figure undeserving of the judgment sought by Freeman and Moss.
He urged the jury to send a message of unity and compassion to America, referencing the divisions evident, particularly after the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
“Rudy Giuliani is a good man. I know some of you may not think that,” he remarked, Giuliani visibly reacting.
“I’m asking you to be reasonable,” Sibley added. “That’s all I’m asking you.”
