Why wasn't Trump charged just like Giuliani for defamation of Ruby Freeman?

[garybeck]

Hearing all the reporting today about Giuliani's charges of defamation against Ruby Freeman. Then i hear a recording of Trump saying all the same things that Giuliani said. I guess it was up to the Freemans who to file charges against. i wonder now if they will consider charging Trump, now that all the evidence is already out and they proved they are right.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

1. Because he hasn't been charged with anything

It's not a criminal case, but civil. The Freemans sued him, and they chose who they wanted to sue.

Way it works.

[garybeck]

7. right, that was basically my question. why didn't the freemans sue trump too? nt

[hlthe2b]

2. He still could be. (Sued for defamation, not charged)

[louis-t]

3. He seems to have more money than Rudy.

They could still sue him. Rudy won't pay.

[Ocelot II]

4. He wouldn't be "charged" because defaming someone isn't a crime; it's a tort.

He could be sued, though; but Freeman and Moss chose not to do so, possibly because of the complications involved in suing a president - which can be done, as E. Jean Carroll has shown, but it's a slower process because you have to deal with the Federal Tort Claims Act. Giuliani was an easier target.

[mobeau69]

5. Maybe because he didn't do it publicly?

[blogslug]

6. Those two women went through hell

They would be perfectly justified in completely retreating from public life. Instead they chose to fight one man whose lies upturned and threatened their lives. I can't imagine the fortitude it took for them to file just this one lawsuit.

[Deuxcents]

8. 👍

[Dear_Prudence]

9. Ms Freeman referenced in RICO Charges

The RICO charges against TFG by Fulton County, Georgia, include intimidation and harassment of Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman. It references the effort to solicit false testimony from Ms. Freeman. So TFG's actions against her are included in the *criminal* charges.