Dominion Voting Sues Rudy Giuliani For $1.3 Billion Over Election Conspiracy

Topline

Dominion Voting Systems sued Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani for defamation Monday, accusing the former New York City mayor of having “manufactured and disseminated” a false conspiracy theory involving the company’s voting machines, the second in a series of high-dollar lawsuits Dominion has filed against Trump allies who pushed false accusations of election fraud.

Key Facts

Big Number

$1.3 billion. That’s how much Dominion is asking for in damages in its suit against Giuliani—the same amount named in its first lawsuit against Powell.

Chief Critic

In a statement, Giuliani said the Dominion lawsuit would “allow me to investigate their history, finances and practices fully and completely,” calling the litigation “another act of intimidation by the hate-filled left-wing.” The attorney said he “will investigate a countersuit against [Dominion] for violating these constitutional rights.”

Crucial Quote

"As a lawyer, Rudy Giuliani is well aware that he can be sanctioned for making false claims in court. That's why he never mentioned Dominion in court and admitted in court that his case wasn't a fraud case,” Dominion attorney Thomas Clare said in a statement. “Instead, he peddled his lies about Dominion in the court of public opinion, in concert with reckless media outlets that knowingly gave him a global platform to spew baseless falsehoods and to undermine confidence in our democracy.”

What To Watch For

Dominion has confirmed it will file additional lawsuits against others who have perpetuated false allegations against the company, including media organizations. “There will be others,” Clare told reporters Monday, adding the company is moving “quickly and deliberately” and “no one is off the list at this point,” including Trump himself. In its lawsuit against Giuliani, the company singles out major figures including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, conservative attorney L. Lin Wood, Fox News, Newsmax and One America News as others who were “determined to promote a false preconceived narrative about the 2020 election.” Clare confirmed the company “will be looking at” Lindell in their “next round” of potential defendants, following news that Dominion had sent the Trump-allied CEO multiple letters warning of potential litigation. Lindell—who previously told Forbes he “welcome[s] Dominion to sue me”—“will eventually get his wish,” Clare said Monday.

Key Background

The Dominion defamation lawsuits are one of a number of consequences Giuliani and other Trump allies are starting to face for their post-election legal efforts and baseless voter fraud claims. Dozens of attorneys filed an ethics complaint against Giuliani with the New York State Bar over his post-election conduct, which seeks to have him investigated and potentially disbarred, and Powell is facing potential sanctions for a failed post-election lawsuit in Michigan that made allegations about Dominion, among other ramifications.

Further Reading

Dominion Voting Sues Sidney Powell For Defamation Over Election Conspiracy—And Others May Be Next (Forbes)

‘Conduct Yourself Accordingly’: Dominion Warned MyPillow CEO Twice Of ‘Imminent’ Litigation Over Election Conspiracy (Forbes)

Dominion Warns White House, Giuliani Of ‘Imminent’ Legal Action Over Voter Fraud Claims (Forbes)

Ethics Complaint Against Rudy Giuliani Seeks To Disbar Him In New York (Forbes)