Giuliani ordered to immediately pay $148 million to Georgia election workers he defamed

Rudy Giuliani must immediately pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers he defamed, with a federal judge suggesting the former New York mayor may have been dishonest about his finances and expressing concern he might not comply with the judgment.

The latest twist in the defamation case comes just days after Giuliani was ordered to pay $148 million to the two women, Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea "Shaye" Moss. Giuliani had falsely claimed in the wake of the 2020 presidential election that they engaged in a fake ballot processing scheme while they served as election workers. 

In a scathing ruling on Wednesday, Judge Beryl Howell questioned Giuliani's objections that he couldn't afford to pay a large monetary award. "Such claims of Giuliani's 'financial difficulties' — no matter how many times repeated or publicly disseminated and duly reported in the media — are difficult to square with the fact that Giuliani affords a spokesperson, who accompanied him daily to trial," Howell wrote.