Dominion sues Giuliani for "big lie" of electoral fraud

Fact Check: Falsehoods About Voter Fraud 3:17

(CNN) ––

The electoral technology company Dominion, which has been the subject of constant conspiracy theories by Donald Trump and his allies, sued Rudy Giuliani, the former president's lawyer, for defamation.

This, after Giuliani promoted the "big lie" about voter fraud on his podcasts and television appearances.

Dominion Voting Systems' lawsuit against Giuliani demands $ 1.3 billion in damages.

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“Just as Giuliani and his allies claimed, the Big Lie went viral on social media as people tweeted, retweeted and raged that Dominion had stolen their votes.

Although some lies –– little lies–– break out on social media and die with the next news cycle, the Big Lie was different.

These were the words Dominion's attorneys wrote in the lawsuit.

The appeal was presented to the District Court of the city of Washington this Monday morning.

“The damage to Dominion's business and reputation is unprecedented.

And it is irreparable because of how fervently millions of people believe it, "they added.

Dominion's claims against Giuliani

The lawsuit notes that Giuliani spread falsehoods that Dominion is owned by Venezuelan communists and that it corrupted the elections.

However, Trump's attorney did not make those claims in the lawsuits he filed on behalf of the former president.

"Dominion's $ 1.3 billion defamation lawsuit will allow me to fully investigate its history, finances and practices," Giuliani told CNN in a statement Monday.

“The amount being asked is obviously intended to scare the faint-hearted.

It is another act of intimidation by the hateful left to eliminate and censor the exercise of freedom of expression.

As well as the ability of lawyers to vigorously defend their clients, "he completed.

Giuliani said he will "investigate a counterclaim" against Dominion "for violating these constitutional rights."

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This is the second defamation lawsuit Dominion has filed in recent weeks to recoup its losses, following Trump's post-election disinformation campaign.

The vote auditing firm previously sued attorney Sidney Powell, who promoted similar claims with Giuliani.

Powell's lawsuit is still in its infancy.

In recent weeks, Dominion has positioned himself as an important voice against Trump's false electoral claims.

Also, in rejection of the Capitol uprising by supporters of the former president who hoped to reverse the victory of Joe Biden.

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Dominion sent cease and desist letters to Giuliani

In Monday's lawsuit, the company focused on Giuliani continuing to assert without evidence that Dominion aided the voter fraud even after receiving a cease-and-desist letter.

The company, founded in Canada, details that Giuliani's listeners reacted by amplifying his message of a stolen election online.

The former New York mayor and well-known prosecutor repeated his claims on podcasts, his radio show and YouTube shows.

He also used his platform in recent months to earn money promoting cigars, a conservative alternative to the AARP association, and the sale of gold coins, according to the lawsuit.

Additionally, Giuliani appeared on television networks OANN, Fox and Fox Business to make allegations of voter fraud, the suit said.

Dominion also detailed how on January 6 - hours before a crowd of Trump supporters in Washington stormed the Capitol - Giuliani continued to promote claims of voter fraud about Dominion in tweets, in a YouTube appearance and on his own. speech at the event.

Giuliani said at the rally, without evidence, that he knew of an expert who had examined Dominion's voting machines and seen changes in the votes.

Then, the lawyer concluded that "this election was stolen," according to the complaint.

Dominion sent Giuliani a second letter, requesting a retraction on January 10, the company says.

Giuliani has not retracted his false claims about Dominion.

And many of his radio and television appearances, as well as his fake tweets, remain available online to a global internet audience.

In fact, to this day, it continues to duplicate the Big Lie, ”the lawsuit said.

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Mistrust of "millions of voters"

Dominion said millions of American voters now distrust the company and its employees have been harassed.

The company believes hundreds of its state and local contracts are now in jeopardy.

In that sense, Dominion indicated that it projects a profit loss in the next five years of 200 million dollars, the lawsuit read.

Tom Clare, a lawyer for the company, said he may seek to depose Giuliani as part of the lawsuit,

When asked in a media call Monday if Dominion plans to sue Trump himself, Clare said: "We don't rule anyone out."

Earlier, when Dominion sued Powell, the company said it planned to pursue additional lawsuits.

He also mentioned at the time that he was considering the possibility of suing media organizations that gave platforms to electoral disinformation.

Clare said the same thing about Trump at the time: that the company hadn't ruled anyone out yet, as it plans additional litigation.

“There are a number of people and media companies that we believe are complicit.

They said it in their own voice, with their own personalities and in print.

And they provided a platform, ”Clare said earlier, after Powell's lawsuit was filed on January 8.

"There will be other" defendants, Clare said Monday.

Demand 2020 United States Elections Rudy Giuliani