In The End…

Wow. Ruby Freeman & Shaye Moss just spoke & said, “Our greatest wish is that no one, no election worker or voter or school board member or anyone else ever experiences anything like we went through.” They are so brave. They are profiles in courage. Thank you, Ruby & Shaye.

— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) December 15, 2023

That belongs at the top of the news.

Rudy says he’s not been allowed to offer one single piece of evidence in his defense. It was HIS choice to refuse to comply with discovery. It was HIS choice not to testify. Dont believe him. https://t.co/Eud2moNclQ

— Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) December 15, 2023

He even sounds like Trump now.

Welp, Rudy is the peak proof case of #ETTD.

He’s going to die in poverty.

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) December 15, 2023

I think it is absolutely perfect that the people who finally stood up to the bully that Rudy has been most of his life and wrecked him financially are Ruby and Shaye. It’s terrible what happened to them, but they are standing up for other victims and are American heroes. https://t.co/TreherSWMa

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) December 15, 2023

I am not weeping for Rudy.

"I miss my home, I miss my neighbors, and I miss my name." https://t.co/VLKa1n2l87

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) December 15, 2023

Reporter: Do you still believe what you said about these two women was truthful?

Giuliani: I have no doubt that my comments were made and they were supportable and they are supportable today pic.twitter.com/ZumSz91SA0

— Acyn (@Acyn) December 15, 2023

Well, yes, his comments were made (is Trumpian dementia contagious? 😷). As for being supportable, the summary judgment of the court before this trial for damages says otherwise.* Like I said: might as well be listening to Trump.

Giuliani: I didn't testify, the judge made it clear if I made any mistake or did anything wrong, she would consider contempt. This judge has a reputation for putting people in jail. pic.twitter.com/1eEjXxe6Wr

— Acyn (@Acyn) December 15, 2023

Lying to the judge has consequences, too.

Ah, Rudy. A lifetime grazy train had a reservation in your name. Speeches. Honors. Grand Marshaldoms. Maybe another SNL gig. A life of comfort and ease.
But no.....

— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) December 15, 2023

In the end we all become fully who we are. Which is sometimes a very damning conclusion.

*About that summary judgment:

“He refused to cooperate in discovery. There was never a trial on whether Rudy actually did these things. Rather, the judge took it as a given, because he was so obstreperous during his discovery conduct that the ultimate penalty to decide the case fully against him, with all inferences, is what in fact happened."

Rudes has literally no one to blame but himself. Not that he’ll do that. Because, of course, he wuz robbed:

The absurdity of the amount is indicative of the absurdity and unfairness of the entire proceeding.

It bore no resemblance to a trial in a country with the rule of law. I wasn't able to offer any evidence in my defense. We'll have more to say and look forward to the appeal.

— Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) December 15, 2023

But that's not what happened at all:

The big problem for Giuliani, she continued, is that "it isn't that he was robbed of the opportunity to litigate on this question. Rather, he declined to participate. The default judgment was issued when he refused to engage in discovery. He refused to offer the evidence that is required in a court of law to the other side, and he shielded information about his own finances in order to keep that information private and not in the public sphere." 

"So, the ability to be able to move forward here with any kind of challenge will be complicated, because we don't see him in a place where ... he was willing to participate in the first instance," Jones added.

An appeal is predicated on the idea the trial court erred, and that error merits a reversal orca different outcome.  It’s not just: “I don’t like this verdict and I want another bite at the apple!” Trump is that stupid. Rudy is a lawyer, he’s supposed to know better. If you don’t participate in the case, you pretty much throw away your opportunity to appeal. And you know Rudy knew that:

If I had my druthers Giuliani coverage would be more interested in why it might have been worth it to him to risk a massive verdict to hide from his discovery obligations.

— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) December 15, 2023