An attorney for Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, had urged the eight-person jury to “send a message” with its verdict.
Rudy Giuliani should pay a pair of Georgia election workers he repeatedly and falsely accused of fraud $148 million in damages, a federal jury said Friday.
The eight-person jury awarded Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, the sum after a four-day trial, during which they testified that Giuliani’s lies in support of former President Donald Trump’s bogus stolen-election claims subjected them to a torrent of racist and violent threats and turned their lives upside down.
Freeman testified Wednesday that she was terrorized by Trump supporters and forced to move from her home because of Giuliani’s smears. “I was scared to come home at dark, you know,” a visibly emotional Freeman said on the witness stand. “I was just scared, I knew I had to move.”
What is the impact of this? It seems like whenever a political person is hit with a huge fine in the US, they never pay a penny of it. And furthermore, it seems like they just live their life in luxury, untouched by the massive amount of money they owe.
I just don’t understand. In other countries, I’d expect the criminal behind bars - especially if they won’t pay. What kafkaesque bureaucratic shithole set of laws allow this?
That would be an interesting metric. “Republican deficit” - the sum of money owed by individual Republican agents (politicians and ex-politicians) through civil suits. Compare it to the “Democratic deficit” and see what kind of numbers we’re talking.
It’s civil and against him personally, he’ll be paying it or they’ll be back in court seeking additional damages. Criminal law is different and yes oftentimes the government will accept a small percentage of what’s actually owed usually 20%-ish.
The only way to answer this question is to investigate the circumstances of specific examples.
Generally, the person just doesn’t have the money. If Giuliani bought his nephew $100m in shares 10 years ago, who’s to say those shares do not in fact belong to the nephew.
Then why not start seizing his assets? Take everything from him
Interest starts running at 5.39% from the day of the judgment. It also operates as a lien against any real property Rudy has in the judicial district.
Rudy will likely appeal and the appeal operates to stay the judgment. Only after the stay is lifted can the plaintiffs move to execute the judgment, which can include garnishing wages, levying bank accounts, and direct asset seizures.