Rudy Giuliani has reached a settlement in the $148 million defamation lawsuit brought by Georgia election workers, allowing him to keep his Florida condo and prized Yankees memorabilia while avoiding a potentially humiliating asset trial.
At a Glance
- Giuliani has satisfied the $148 million judgment awarded to Fulton County election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss
- A jury found him liable in 2023 for defamation by falsely accusing the workers of ballot fraud in the 2020 election
- The settlement allows Giuliani to retain his Palm Beach condo and World Series rings
- Giuliani agreed not to further defame the election workers but made no admission of guilt
- The settlement came shortly after a Trump-prompted fundraising effort raised $169,000 for Giuliani
Settlement Reached After Legal Battle
Rudy Giuliani has fully satisfied a $148 million defamation judgment involving two Fulton County election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. The settlement was approved by Judge Lewis Liman in Manhattan federal court, ending a contentious legal battle that began with a December 2021 lawsuit. The workers accused the former New York City Mayor of falsely claiming they committed ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, allegations that a jury found constituted defamation, civil conspiracy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The settlement arrives at a critical moment for Giuliani, who was facing the possibility of a bench trial that could have forced him to surrender valuable personal possessions. During the settlement process, Giuliani was held in contempt twice by federal judges for failing to relinquish possessions and continuing to make defamatory statements about the election workers. His legal team had been engaged in extensive litigation over which properties and belongings he would need to hand over to satisfy the judgment.
🚨🇺🇸GIULIANI PAYS $148 MILLION DEFAMATION JUDGMENT
Rudy Giuliani has "fully satisfied" the $148 million judgment owed to Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, whom he falsely accused of helping to steal the 2020 election from Trump.
The settlement, reached in… https://t.co/9n8An9AstJ pic.twitter.com/IVGe8uKQGt
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 24, 2025
Assets Preserved Despite Judgment
The settlement represents a significant financial and personal victory for Giuliani, who will retain ownership of his Florida condominium and valuable New York Yankees World Series rings. These assets had been at the center of contentious negotiations and were facing potential seizure before the agreement was reached. Court filings indicate that Giuliani began surrendering assets after the federal jury determined the damages and penalties in December 2024.
While the specific terms of the compensation were not disclosed, the case was dismissed in district court after Giuliani fulfilled his obligations to Freeman and Moss. The settlement notably did not include an admission of guilt from Giuliani, though he did agree to stop making defamatory statements about the election workers in the future. His bankruptcy protection filing was previously dismissed by a judge who found Giuliani had been evasive about disclosing his assets.
Ongoing Legal Challenges
Despite resolving this particular case, Giuliani’s legal troubles are far from over. He was previously disbarred in New York and Washington D.C. due to his efforts to aid President Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. The settlement came shortly after a fundraising effort, spurred by a social media post from Donald Trump, raised $169,000 for Giuliani’s legal defense, though his attorney did not disclose whether external financial help was received to pay the settlement.
Representatives for both Giuliani and the election workers declined to comment on the specifics of the settlement agreement.
