Georgia election workers seek to hold Giuliani in civil contempt

The two Georgia election workers who won a $146 million defamation judgment against Rudy Giuliani over his baseless claims of mass election fraud in 2020 are accusing him of defaming them again on two of his recent nightly shows. 

Attorneys for Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the election workers, asked the judge who oversaw last year’s defamation trial to hold Giuliani in civil contempt and sanction him for the statements. 

The development comes after Giuliani on two episodes of his “America’s Mayor Live” show last week baselessly claimed the workers were “quadruple counting” ballots in 2020. 

The election workers’ attorneys said the former New York City mayor was “brazenly violating” a court injunction that blocks him from continuing to claim that Freeman and Moss engaged in wrongdoing. 

“These statements repeat the exact same lies for which Mr. Giuliani has already been held liable, and which he agreed to be bound by court order to stop repeating," the duo’s attorneys wrote in court filings. "They constitute unambiguous violations of the Consent Injunction."

“The Court should hold Mr. Giuliani in civil contempt and—following a hearing, if necessary—impose sanctions calculated to ensure Mr. Giuliani’s compliance with the Consent Injunction,” they added.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, an appointee of former President Obama, ordered Giuliani to respond in writing by Dec. 2 and scheduled an in person hearing in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 12. Giuliani is required to attend. 

Ted Goodman, Giuliani’s spokesperson, called the new effort a “dishonest and duplicitous attack.” 

“Mayor Giuliani, under the First Amendment of the Constitution, has every right to defend himself, especially as the other side consistently leaks to the press,” Goodman said. “The ongoing lawfare against Mayor Giuliani must end. It's a complete abomination, and totally outrageous, to watch these people try and destroy this good and honest man who has dedicated his life to serving others."

"Mayor Giuliani took down the Mafia, cleaned up New York City, and comforted the nation following September 11," he added

The push for civil contempt comes after the election workers began receiving some of Giuliani’s assets following a monthslong battle to collect on the $146 million judgment. They are expected to recover far less, given that President-elect Trump's former personal lawyer had disclosed only roughly $10 million in assets.

One of Giuliani’s attorneys indicated in court filings that he has now turned over his Mercedez-Benz, watches, a ring and cash in his bank accounts. The parties are still battling over whether Giuliani must turn over other property, including his Florida condo. 

Freeman and Moss’s attorneys signaled Giuliani has additional assets that he doesn’t have to turn over to satisfy the defamation judgment that could newly be taken as punishment, if he is found in civil contempt.