A recent court order from a federal judge in Washington, D.C. has marked another setback for Rudy Giuliani, former attorney to President Donald Trump, in his ongoing legal troubles concerning his conduct around the 2020 presidential election results.
The Daily Mail reported that Judge Beryl Howell found Giuliani in contempt of court for his ongoing defamation against two election workers from Georgia, imposing severe judicial measures due to his noncompliance with previous orders.
On January 10, 2025, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell declared Rudy Giuliani in contempt for disregarding the court's explicit directives to cease defamation against Georgia election workers Wandrea "Shaye" Moss and Ruby Freeman.
Giuliani had been officially barred from making derogatory public statements about the duo, who previously secured a hefty $148 million defamation judgment against him.
Giuliani's condemnation followed a harsh critique of Judge Howell, whom he labeled as "bloodthirsty" in an online rant, and disparaged her handling of cases related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
He also attacked the judge just before a crucial court hearing, undermining the legal process and further aggravating his position in front of the law.
The legal repercussions for Giuliani extend beyond the contempt ruling. During the January 10 hearing, Judge Howell warned him of the possibility of incarceration for his continued libel against Moss and Freeman and his failure to adhere to judicial directives aimed at curbing his unconstrained public declarations.
In an attempt to address the $148 million judgment, Giuliani has resorted to unusual fundraising strategies, including selling signature coffee.
However, he has struggled to meet other court-imposed demands, such as surrendering his Mercedes and additional assets to satisfy the payment owed to Moss and Freeman.
Giuliani briefly discussed his financial situation during the hearing, but his focus was overshadowed by the judge's threats to impose daily fines of $200 if he failed to verify his compliance with her mandate to review all relevant case material within a span of 10 days.
Howell's response to Giuliani's defiance was firm. She expressed astonishment at his audacity to claim unfair treatment and disregard court orders with impunity. "This takes real chutzpah, Mr. Giuliani," remarked Judge Howell during the proceedings, highlighting the gravity of Giuliani's continued defiance of legal norms.
At the heart of this legal battle is Giuliani's alleged misrepresentation of the roles of Moss and Freeman in the 2020 election.
According to the plaintiffs’ lawyers, he began disseminating baseless claims about their involvement in election fraud back in December 2020 and persisted despite numerous corrections and warnings about the danger and malice of these conspiracy theories.
Giuliani's attorneys defended his actions by stating he acted out of a belief that he was not violating the defamation judgment, believing his statements fell within permissible boundaries.
This claim, however, did little to mitigate the court's decision or the broader perception of Giuliani's recent behavior.
Further complicating his situation are the pending criminal charges against Giuliani in other jurisdictions related to similar allegations of spreading false claims about the 2020 election.
He faces felony charges in Arizona and is also charged in Georgia alongside former President Trump and others in an attempted election result overturned.
The ramifications of Giuliani’s actions extend both personally and politically, as witnessed by his loss of legal license in both Washington, D.C. and New York. These legal challenges illustrate the ongoing impact of the disputed 2020 election claims on various spheres, from the judiciary to individual careers.