Voting-machine firm sues Giuliani for more than $1.8 billion
Dominion Voting Systems filed a defamation lawsuit yesterday seeking more than US$1.3 billion (NZ$1.8 billion) from Rudolph Giuliani, the lawyer for former president Donald Trump who played a key role in promoting the falsehood that the 2020 election was rigged.
The 107-page complaint, filed in federal court in Washington DC, cites dozens of statements Giuliani made about Dominion – on Twitter, in appearances on conservative media shows and on his own podcast – to promote the ‘‘false preconceived narrative’’ that the election was stolen from Trump. That ‘‘Big Lie’’ not only damaged Dominion’s reputation and business and led to death threats against its employees, but also laid the groundwork for hundreds of people to storm the US Capitol on January 6, the complaint says. Five people died as a result of the attack, and dozens of law enforcement officials were injured.
In a speech just before the Capitol was stormed, Giuliani spoke of ‘‘crooked Dominion machines’’ that were used to steal the election and suggested that Trump supporters conduct ‘‘trial by combat.’’ Federal officials have charged more than 135 people in connection with the riot, and more are expected to be charged as the investigation continues.
In a text message, Giuliani said he believed the case would give him an opportunity to prove his allegations about Dominion.
‘‘The amount being asked for is, quite obviously, intended to frighten people of faint heart,’’ he wrote, calling it an effort to ‘‘wipe out and censor the exercise of free speech, as well as the ability of lawyers to defend their clients vigorously.’’ He said he would investigate a countersuit against Dominion ‘‘for violating these Constitutional rights.’’