Rudy Giuliani, a longstanding ally of former President Donald Trump, has been mandated to pay a sum exceeding $148 million (£116 million) to two women over unfounded allegations that they manipulated votes in the 2020 election.

A judge had previously ruled Mr. Giuliani responsible for making defamatory statements about Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, who were Georgia poll workers.

Following a four-day trial to determine the penalty, the eight-member jury on Friday ordered $20 million for defamation to be paid to each of the victims. Additionally, they were awarded over $16 million each for emotional distress.

The jury also decreed a punitive damages payment of $75 million, to be divided between Freeman and Moss.

Originally seeking damages ranging from $15 million to $43 million from Mr. Giuliani, Trump's former personal attorney, the plaintiffs expressed their satisfaction with the verdict. Speaking after the decision, Ms. Moss mentioned that the past few years had been "devastating."

Outside the court, Mr. Giuliani addressed reporters, stating, "I don't regret a d*mn thing." During closing arguments, Michael Gottlieb, the attorney representing Freeman and Moss, referred to Giuliani as "patient zero" of misinformation.

He argued that a substantial financial penalty was essential to "send a message" not only to Mr. Giuliani but also to any influential figure with a significant platform.

Although initially expected to testify in his defense on Thursday, Mr. Giuliani's plans were abruptly canceled. Following the verdict, he deemed the penalty "absurd" and expressed intentions to appeal, stating, "Honestly, I didn't believe it would do any good."

Mr Giuliani is worth about $50m, according to an estimate by CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

His lawyers earlier urged the jury to be measured as they considered the penalty.

They said that, although the former mayor of New York did spread lies after the 2020 presidential election, he was not as responsible - or as malicious - as lawyers for the two women argued.

In courtroom testimony in Washington DC on Wednesday, Ms Freeman recounted having to flee her home after a group of Trump supporters gathered outside and the FBI told her she was in danger.

The incident happened after Mr Giuliani shared a video of them, which he falsely said showed evidence of ballot tampering.

"I took it as though they were going to hang me with their ropes on my street," Ms Freeman said. "I was scared. I didn't know if they were coming to kill me."

Ms Freeman said that she was left isolated by Mr Giuliani's actions. Friends and acquaintances grew afraid to be linked to her, she said, and she has felt forced to live a life of seclusion because of lingering fears she will be recognised publicly.

Addressing reporters on Friday, the women said that more lawsuits may be forthcoming for other public figures that had spread lies about them.

"They must be held accountable too," said Ms Freeman.

"Money will not solve all of my problems," she continued. "I can't move home, I will always have to be careful... I miss my home, I miss my neighbours and I miss my name."

The trial in Washington DC was just one of the legal cases Mr Giuliani is facing.

In Georgia, Mr Giuliani faces criminal charges, including making false statements, in an election-subversion case against Mr Trump. Mr Giuliani has pleaded not guilty.

A former business associate is also suing him for $10m over sexual harassment claims.

And according to recent court filings from the Internal Revenue Service, Mr Giuliani owes more than half a million dollars in federal taxes.

In September, Mr Trump reportedly hosted a $100,000-a-plate dinner at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, to raise money for a legal defence fund for Mr Giuliani.

Back in 2018, Mr Giuliani's divorce case heard claims of his lavish spending. His ex-wife, Judith Giuliani, said that in a five-month period he spent nearly a million dollars.

This was said to include $12,012 on cigars, $7,131 on fountain pens, $286,000 on an alleged mistress, $447,938 "for his own enjoyment" and $165,000 on travel.

seriously

atoluwash:

Rudy Giuliani, a longstanding ally of former President Donald Trump, has been mandated to pay a sum exceeding $148 million (£116 million) to two women over unfounded allegations that they manipulated votes in the 2020 election.

A judge had previously ruled Mr. Giuliani responsible for making defamatory statements about Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, who were Georgia poll workers.

Following a four-day trial to determine the penalty, the eight-member jury on Friday ordered $20 million for defamation to be paid to each of the victims. Additionally, they were awarded over $16 million each for emotional distress.

The jury also decreed a punitive damages payment of $75 million, to be divided between Freeman and Moss.

Originally seeking damages ranging from $15 million to $43 million from Mr. Giuliani, Trump's former personal attorney, the plaintiffs expressed their satisfaction with the verdict. Speaking after the decision, Ms. Moss mentioned that the past few years had been "devastating."

Outside the court, Mr. Giuliani addressed reporters, stating, "I don't regret a d*mn thing." During closing arguments, Michael Gottlieb, the attorney representing Freeman and Moss, referred to Giuliani as "patient zero" of misinformation.

He argued that a substantial financial penalty was essential to "send a message" not only to Mr. Giuliani but also to any influential figure with a significant platform.

Although initially expected to testify in his defense on Thursday, Mr. Giuliani's plans were abruptly canceled. Following the verdict, he deemed the penalty "absurd" and expressed intentions to appeal, stating, "Honestly, I didn't believe it would do any good."

Mr Giuliani is worth about $50m, according to an estimate by CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

His lawyers earlier urged the jury to be measured as they considered the penalty.

They said that, although the former mayor of New York did spread lies after the 2020 presidential election, he was not as responsible - or as malicious - as lawyers for the two women argued.

In courtroom testimony in Washington DC on Wednesday, Ms Freeman recounted having to flee her home after a group of Trump supporters gathered outside and the FBI told her she was in danger.

The incident happened after Mr Giuliani shared a video of them, which he falsely said showed evidence of ballot tampering.

"I took it as though they were going to hang me with their ropes on my street," Ms Freeman said. "I was scared. I didn't know if they were coming to kill me."

Ms Freeman said that she was left isolated by Mr Giuliani's actions. Friends and acquaintances grew afraid to be linked to her, she said, and she has felt forced to live a life of seclusion because of lingering fears she will be recognised publicly.

Addressing reporters on Friday, the women said that more lawsuits may be forthcoming for other public figures that had spread lies about them.

"They must be held accountable too," said Ms Freeman.

"Money will not solve all of my problems," she continued. "I can't move home, I will always have to be careful... I miss my home, I miss my neighbours and I miss my name."

The trial in Washington DC was just one of the legal cases Mr Giuliani is facing.

In Georgia, Mr Giuliani faces criminal charges, including making false statements, in an election-subversion case against Mr Trump. Mr Giuliani has pleaded not guilty.

A former business associate is also suing him for $10m over sexual harassment claims.

And according to recent court filings from the Internal Revenue Service, Mr Giuliani owes more than half a million dollars in federal taxes.

In September, Mr Trump reportedly hosted a $100,000-a-plate dinner at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, to raise money for a legal defence fund for Mr Giuliani.

Back in 2018, Mr Giuliani's divorce case heard claims of his lavish spending. His ex-wife, Judith Giuliani, said that in a five-month period he spent nearly a million dollars.

This was said to include $12,012 on cigars, $7,131 on fountain pens, $286,000 on an alleged mistress, $447,938 "for his own enjoyment" and $165,000 on travel.

He deserves any penalty

Bad