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Thursday 27 July 2023

Rudy Giuliani concedes he made public comments falsely

Continued from Front
Though Giuliani is not dis-
puting that the statements
were false, he does not
concede that they caused
any damage to Freeman
or Moss. That distinction is
important because plain-
tiffs in a defamation case
must prove not only that
a statement made about
them was false but that
it also resulted in actual
damage.
Moss told the U.S. House
committee investigating
the Capitol riot that her life
was shattered by the false
accusations. She said she
received hateful and rac-
ist messages, some “wish-
ing death upon me. Telling
me that I’ll be in jail with my
mother. And saying things
like, ‘Be glad it’s 2020 and
not 1920.’” Freeman said in Former President Donald Trump visits Café du Monde in New Orleans, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Associated Press
her testimony: “There is no-
where I feel safe.”
Giuliani’s statement was at- fraud he and former-Presi- and were in their posses- ing in December 2020 that tigating efforts by Trump
tached to a filing arguing dent Trump made against sion, custody, or control.” surveillance video from and his allies to overturn
that he did not fail to pro- them have been false since The federal government State Farm Arena showed the 2020 election results,
duce evidence in the case day one.” had executed search war- the election workers com- have both shown interest
and should not be sanc- Certain issues, including rants at Giuliani’s home and mitting election fraud. As in what happened to Moss
tioned as Freeman and damages, still have to be office in a separate case in those allegations circulat- and Freeman.
Moss had requested. decided by the court. Gott- New York and had seized ed online, the two women Smith’s team has subpoe-
“While Giuliani does not lieb said Freeman and Moss his electronic devices. said, they suffered intense naed Georgia Secretary of
admit to Plaintiffs’ allega- are “pleased with this ma- The records that Moss and harassment, both in person State Brad Raffensperger’s
tions, he — for purposes of jor milestone in their fight for Freeman said were not and online. Moss detailed office for any Election Day
this litigation only — does justice, and look forward to produced “have not been her experiences in emo- video from State Farm Are-
not contest the factual al- presenting what remains of in the possession of Giuliani tional testimony before the na. Willis sought testimony
legations,” the filing said. this case at trial.” since their seizure in April members of Congress in- about a curious episode
Giuliani political adviser Freeman and Moss filed a 2021,” according to the vestigating the Capitol in- in which prosecutors say a
Ted Goodman said in an motion this month alleging court filing, and therefore it surrection. The Jan. 6 com- woman traveled from Chi-
email Wednesday that the that Giuliani had “failed is “physically impossible” for mittee also played video cago to Georgia in Janu-
filing was made “in order to to take any steps to pre- him to have destroyed the testimony from Freeman ary 2021 and tried to pres-
move on to the portion of serve relevant electronic evidence. during the hearing in June sure Freeman into falsely
the case that will permit a evidence.” They know such Moss had worked for the 2022. confessing to committing
motion to dismiss.” evidence exists because Fulton County elections de- In a court filing that month, election fraud.
Michael Gottlieb, a lawyer other people provided it to partment since 2012 and Giuliani asked the judge to The defamation lawsuit
for Freeman and Moss, said them, their filing says. They supervised the absentee toss the lawsuit, arguing the originally named right-wing
in an emailed statement asked U.S. District Judge ballot operation during the claims against him were cable news channel One
that Giuliani is conced- Beryl Howell in Washington 2020 election. Freeman barred by First Amend- America News Network, its
ing “what we have always to impose sanctions. was a temporary election ment protections for free owners and its chief White
known to be true — Ruby In the court filing, a lawyer worker, verifying signa- speech. Howell rejected House correspondent for
Freeman and Shaye Moss for Giuliani argued that his tures on absentee ballots that request, allowing the also pushing the debunked
honorably performed their client did not fail to preserve and preparing them to be lawsuit to proceed. claims. They were dismissed
civic duties in the 2020 pres- or destroy any electronic counted and processed. Justice Department special from the suit in May 2022
idential election in full com- evidence “because all Giuliani and others alleged counsel Jack Smith and Ful- after reaching an undis-
pliance with the law; and pertinent documents were during a Georgia legisla- ton County District Attorney closed settlement with
the allegations of election seized by the government tive subcommittee hear- Fani Willis, who are inves- Moss and Freeman.q