In a recent ruling, a judge has appointed Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss, as recipients of assets owned by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, following his defamation against them in the aftermath of the 2020 election. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman mandated that Giuliani transfer control of his New York City apartment, a vintage 1980s Mercedes-Benz once belonging to legendary actress Lauren Bacall, along with several luxury watches and various other assets within seven days.
The assets come after a jury determined that Giuliani owes Freeman and Moss approximately $150 million for spreading false information about them, a decision Giuliani is currently appealing. The ruling also gives Freeman and Moss the green light to start liquidating the ordered assets immediately.
Aaron Nathan, the attorney representing Freeman and Moss, expressed his support for the ruling, stating, “The road to justice for Ruby and Shaye has been long, but they have never wavered. Last December, a jury delivered a powerful verdict in their favor, and we’re proud that today’s ruling makes that verdict a reality.”
Nathan further added, “We are pleased that our clients will finally begin to receive some compensation for Giuliani’s actions. This outcome should send a powerful message that there is a price to pay for those who choose to intentionally spread disinformation.”
Giuliani has not yet responded to media requests for comments. Along with his Upper East Side apartment, Giuliani is also required to hand over memorabilia related to the New York Yankees and around two dozen watches. Additionally, Freeman and Moss are entitled to fees owed to Giuliani by the Trump campaign for his legal work in 2020.
Initially listed at $6.5 million in 2023, Giuliani has since reduced the price of his three-bedroom apartment to just over $5.1 million this fall. Notably, the judge did not order Giuliani to sell a separate condominium in Palm Beach, as there is an ongoing legal dispute regarding that property. Instead, an order was placed to prevent Giuliani from selling the condo while the matter is unresolved.
Following his loss in the defamation case last fall, Giuliani filed for bankruptcy in an attempt to avoid paying Freeman and Moss; however, a judge dismissed that bankruptcy case earlier this year.
After the 2020 election, Giuliani publicized a misleading video that falsely accused Freeman and Moss of engaging in illegal activities during ballot counting in Atlanta. Even after Georgia election officials clarified that the video showed the women performing their duties without issues, Giuliani continued to perpetuate the lies. Both women have since been cleared of any wrongdoing by official investigators.
The video and the subsequent accusations against Freeman and Moss became pivotal in Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the election results in Georgia. Notably, Trump mentioned Freeman by name during a 2021 phone call with Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, urging him to overturn the election results.
Since the incident, Freeman and Moss have largely stayed out of the public eye, revealing the profound impact it has had on their lives, including receiving death threats, being forced from their homes, and losing their jobs. During the defamation trial, they shared their battles with depression following the election outcome.
Giuliani, who lost his law licenses in New York and Washington, D.C., has shown little remorse for his false statements. During the trial, he maintained a press conference outside the courthouse, asserting that his claims about Freeman and Moss were true.
Recently, Freeman and Moss also reached a settlement with the far-right news outlet Gateway Pundit, which was the first to identify them publicly and disseminate the misleading video. While the terms of the agreement remain confidential, the site has retracted all articles about the women and published a notice acknowledging their innocence. They have also settled with One America News Network, which issued an apology.
The outcomes of these suits are being closely monitored, as they represent a significant moment of accountability for those who spread falsehoods regarding the 2020 election. Legal scholars are observing these cases to evaluate the effectiveness of defamation law as a tool against misinformation in the political arena.
Giuliani is also facing criminal charges in both Georgia and Arizona related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
