Rudy Giuliani faces up to $43 million in trial on damages to Georgia 2020 election workers

Former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani is in court Monday as he faces a weeklong trial to determine the damages he must pay to two Georgia 2020 election workers, who are seeking up to $43 million from the former New York City mayor.

Giuliani conceded in July that he made "false" and "defamatory" statements about Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea "Shaye" Moss after they filed a defamation lawsuit against him over comments he made about them related to the 2020 election. Giuliani subsequently lost the case by default in August.

The weeklong trial to determine damages is beginning Monday in Washington, D.C. with jury selection, according to The Guardian.

The potential jurors are being asked questions such as "Do you believe that Joseph R. Biden’s election as president of the United States in 2020 was illegitimate?" and "Have you ever used the phrase 'Let’s Go Brandon'?" which refers to the euphemistic phrase criticizing President Biden.

Opening statements in the trial are expected to begin Monday afternoon and the trial is likely to end by Friday. 

Freeman and Moss are asking the jury to consider ordering Giuliani to pay them between $15.5 million and $43 million. The former mayor was already ordered to pay nearly $90,000 to the women in the defamation case. Even if the women prevail on damages, it is unclear how much money they would actually receive, as Giuliani has said he is in dire financial straits due to his mounting legal problems.

This trial is separate from the Georgia state criminal election case, where Giuliani pleaded not guilty in connection to charges that he and 18 co-conspirators allegedly attempted to overturn the 2020 election results.

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