Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been ordered by a federal judge to pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers whom he defamed. The judge, Beryl Howell, expressed concerns about Giuliani's honesty regarding his finances and raised doubts about his willingness to comply with the judgment. This development comes shortly after Giuliani was initially ordered to pay $148 million to Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, for falsely accusing them of participating in a fake ballot scheme during the 2020 presidential election.

Judge Howell's scathing ruling questioned Giuliani's claims that he could not afford to pay such a large monetary award. She pointed out that his repeated assertions of "financial difficulties" were inconsistent with the fact that he had a spokesperson who accompanied him daily during the trial. Giuliani's attorney, Joe Sibley, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.

Despite the jury's decision, Giuliani has continued to propagate conspiracy theories about the election, specifically targeting Freeman and Moss. In response to this, the two women have filed a new complaint seeking a permanent injunction to prevent Giuliani from persisting in his defamatory campaign against them. Judge Howell, recognizing the urgency of the situation, waived the standard 30-day waiting period for collecting the judgment, citing Giuliani's failure to deny allegations of hiding his assets or provide an affirmative pledge not to do so in the future.

Giuliani's financial circumstances have been the subject of speculation, with indications that his wealth has declined significantly in recent years. Approximately 15 years ago, his net worth was estimated to be over $50 million, with $15 million of that coming from his business activities, including his work with lobbying firm Giuliani Partners. However, he has resorted to unconventional means to generate income, such as selling 9/11 shirts for $911 and offering video messages for $325 on the platform Cameo, which he is no longer available on. In addition, Giuliani is facing other financial challenges, including a lawsuit from his long-term attorney seeking payment of nearly $1.4 million in legal fees. He has also put his Manhattan apartment up for sale, initially listed at $6.5 million but currently priced at $6.1 million.

The ruling against Giuliani is the latest blow to his legal troubles, which stem from his efforts to support former President Donald Trump's baseless claims of election fraud in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. As Giuliani's financial problems continue to mount, it remains uncertain whether he has the means to fulfill the substantial judgment against him.