In a significant development in Donald Trump's election fraud case, two Georgia election workers who recently won a $148 million defamation lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani are likely to be called as witnesses.
This prediction comes from Ryan Goodman, a former special counsel at the Department of Defense and current New York University law professor, who shared his insights on social media.
The election workers, Ruby Freeman and Sheye Moss, were falsely accused of using suitcases of ballots to fraudulently add votes for President Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential election. These accusations were central to the case in which they were awarded a substantial sum in damages from Giuliani, who had propagated these false claims.
On December 5, prosecutors in Trump's election fraud case indicated their intention to introduce evidence concerning Freeman and Moss's involvement, suggesting their potential role as key witnesses. The focus on Freeman and Moss comes after Trump's continued targeting of them, even in the face of "vile and racist" threats from his supporters.
The court filings reveal that Trump repeatedly attacked Freeman and Moss, referring to them as "monsters" who stole the 2020 election. His attacks persisted even after their testimony before the January 6 committee, with Trump allegedly intensifying his accusations on social media platforms.
Senior Assistant Special Counsel Molly Gaston, representing Jack Smith, pointed out in a recent court filing that Trump's continued false allegations against the election workers subjected them to severe threats and harassment.
She emphasized the graphic nature of their testimony before the January 6 committee regarding the harassment they endured.
The involvement of Freeman and Moss in the case against Trump could significantly strengthen the Georgia section of Smith's broader investigation. Smith's case encompasses evidence from seven states where Trump allegedly interfered illegally in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump, who is currently campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, faces four counts of allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election results leading up to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
This is one of four criminal cases against him, in which he has pleaded not guilty, denying any wrongdoing and labeling the accusations as part of a political witch hunt.
