In a significant legal setback, Rudy Giuliani, former attorney for Donald Trump, has been found in contempt of court for the second time this week. This ruling comes as U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell admonished Giuliani for ongoing defamation against two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, who were awarded $148 million in damages after a jury found Giuliani's claims against them to be baseless.

During a hearing, Judge Howell criticized Giuliani's actions, calling it “outrageous and shameful” for him to suggest he has been treated unfairly. “This takes real chutzpah,” she remarked, reminding him of the serious repercussions of spreading falsehoods about the women (source: AP News).

Giuliani's legal troubles compounded earlier this week when another federal judge, Lewis Liman, also held him in contempt for failing to comply with document requests related to a separate defamation suit involving the same plaintiffs. Both judges have indicated that continued violations could lead to jail time or daily fines, with Judge Howell stating that Giuliani must file a declaration affirming he has reviewed court documents concerning the case (source: CBS News).

The lawsuit arose from Giuliani's defamatory claims that Freeman and Moss engaged in election fraud during the 2020 presidential election, accusations they vehemently denied. The court ruled in December 2023 that his actions had led to severe emotional distress, including threats against their lives and reputations (source: The Hill). The plaintiffs testified about the significant toll these allegations took on their lives, including pushing them to change their appearances and retreat from public life due to fears for their safety.

Giuliani's legal team has argued that his comments were made in good faith and that they believed there was ambiguity regarding his references to the plaintiffs. However, the court has reiterated the need for compliance with previous rulings, emphasizing that spreading false claims against Freeman and Moss must cease (source: ABC News).

As these legal proceedings continue, Giuliani’s reputation suffers further decline, depicted by his public remarks dismissing the court's actions as biased and politically motivated (source: HuffPost).

For the latest updates on Giuliani's legal battles and implications for the broader political landscape, follow the full coverage from credible news sources.

For a deeper dive into the ongoing issues concerning Rudy Giuliani and the defamation case, visit the original articles from LA Times, The Guardian, and CNN.