Giuliani reaches tentative settlement with Georgia election workers
Attorneys for Rudy Giuliani and two former Georgia election workers said Thursday they have reached a tentative settlement, a remarkable twist that would end the workers’ extensive litigation to collect their $146 million defamation judgment.
Giuliani was previously ordered to hand over most of his assets, but he was set to begin trial Thursday morning over whether he can retain a Florida condo and three Yankees World Series rings.
The notice, which included sparse details about the settlement, indicated that the agreement would “fully resolve” the disputes and result in “the conclusion of all litigation” pending between Giuliani and Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. The attorneys indicated that execution of the settlement agreement is dependent on “certain conditions” being met but did not expand on the matter.
The settlement agreement comes after Giuliani failed to appear for the trial earlier Thursday in New York City.
In a statement on social platform X, Giuliani confirmed he reached an agreement with the women but said the resolution does not involve “an admission of liability or wrongdoing by any of the Parties.” Giuliani has for years falsely asserted they engaged in widespread 2020 election fraud.
He also said the agreement would allow him to retain his New York apartment, Florida condominium and “all of my personal belongings” — a shocking development that would allow him to retain the vast majority of his assets.
"No one deserves to be subjected to threats, harassment, or intimidation,” Giuliani said. “This litigation has taken its toll on all parties. This whole episode was unfortunate. I and the Plaintiffs have agreed not to ever talk about each other in any defamatory manner, and I urge others to do the same.”
Moss and Freeman in a statement marked the settlement as a milestone.
"The past four years have been a living nightmare. We have fought to clear our names, restore our reputations, and prove that we did nothing wrong," Moss and Freeman said in a joint statement.
"Today is a major milestone in our journey. We have reached an agreement and we can now move forward with our lives. We have agreed to allow Mr. Giuliani to retain his property in exchange for compensation and his promise not to ever defame us."
Following Giuliani’s no-show, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman rescheduled the trial to Tuesday. The parties are now asking the judge to adjourn both the trial and the continuation of a contempt hearing against Giuliani to after Feb. 25, so that the agreement may be executed.
Freeman and Moss have been attempting to collect their $146 million defamation judgment ever since a Washington, D.C., jury awarded them the sum at a December 2023 civil trial.
They testified during the trial that their lives were turned upside down by Giuliani’s assertions they engaged in widespread 2020 election fraud. They detailed a torrent of racist and violent threats following the accusations and indicated that, years later, the attacks persisted.
The parties ended up in Liman’s court for judgment enforcement proceedings after Giuliani first attempted to seek bankruptcy protection in the wake of the massive sum. He was ultimately kicked out of the bankruptcy system for not providing transparency into his finances.
The election workers have since continued to accuse Giuliani of delay tactics, including after the duo secured an order from Liman requiring the ex-mayor to hand over most of his possessions.
Even as recently as this month, the parties’ legal battle remained in full force, with Freeman and Moss’s lawyer successfully convincing judges to hold Giuliani in contempt twice last week.
Updated 2:37 p.m. EST
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Giuliani to keep apartments, World Series rings in settlement with election workers
The ex-New York City mayor owes two election workers $148 million.ABC News - 1h -
Rudy Giuliani reaches settlement deal to end $146 million defamation case
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