Rudy Giuliani, in his typical style, had a theory without much evidence to back it up. However, his lack of evidence finally caught up with him today. A federal judge ruled that Giuliani is responsible for defaming Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, who were election workers in Fulton County, Georgia. Giuliani had accused them of bringing fraudulent ballots in suitcases and passing USB drives like “vials of cocaine,” although they were actually ginger candies according to Moss. Trump further spread these claims, specifically targeting Freeman.
Giuliani stated at the time, “I mean, it’s obvious to anyone who’s a criminal investigator or prosecutor that they are engaged in surreptitious, illegal activity… And they’re still walking around Georgia. They should have been questioned already. Their homes should have been searched for evidence.”
Giuliani tried to avoid handing over documents as part of the case, claiming that his false statements were protected by the First Amendment. However, Judge Beryl Howell rejected this argument, stating that Giuliani’s stipulations were just an attempt to evade producing the required documents. As a result, she held him liable and ordered him to pay attorneys’ fees and other costs for the plaintiffs. A trial will still take place to determine the damages Giuliani should pay.
While this ruling is a legal and financial setback for Giuliani, it should come as no surprise that he defamed Freeman and Moss. In fact, Giuliani himself admitted that his comments were false and actionable. This case parallels the question of Trump’s conviction for subverting the election. A verdict would be satisfying and have political impact, but it shouldn’t be necessary to confirm what we all witnessed in real time.
Nevertheless, this judgment serves as a reminder of how Trump’s attempt to steal the election affected real people. Often, discussions of Trump’s actions become focused on the absurdity and venality of the plot or the damage done to democracy in general. However, this case demonstrates that the victims have names and faces. Moss and Freeman were ordinary citizens who were unjustly attacked while simply doing their job. They were subjected to threats and harassment, along with other figures like Brad Raffensperger and Mike Pence. Disturbingly, they were also targeted because of their race, making them perfect targets for Trump’s racist movement.
This case highlights the concrete impact of Trump and his allies’ actions. Election officials are facing threats and intimidation, leading to high turnover and a sense of mission and public service being eroded. Ultimately, an attack on democracy is an attack on every citizen. Protecting the rule of law and government systems through criminal cases against Trump and his allies is crucial, but justice for individuals like Freeman and Moss is equally important for defending democracy.
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