As we come on the air, a verd GEOFF BENNETT: Earlier this evening, a federal# jury in Washington ordered Rudy Giuliani,## Donald Trump's former campaign attorney,# to pay $148 million to two Georgia election## workers for distress caused by lies# he spread following the 2020 election.

NPR's Miles Parks was in the# courtroom today and joins us now.

So, Miles, we should say, this was a civil trial.## And the jury was asked only to# decide the amount of Here's what Rudy Giuliani told reporters# on his way out of the courtroom today.

RUDY GIULIANI, Former Attorney For# President Donald Trump: Very little I## Obviously, possibly, we will move for a# new trial.

Certa absurdity of the number merely underscores# the absurdity of the entire proceeding.

GEOFF BENNETT: So, he's calling# that number, the $148 million,## absurd.

How did the jury arrive at that number# and what message were they trying MILES PARKS, NPR: I mean, it is# a staggering number, isn't it?

I think, throughout the entire week,# the plaintiffs' atto to make the case that the jury should# send a message, that election lies,## especially when the people pushing# them are essentially using real## people and who are getting caught up as# casualties, that this is not acceptable.

It made it clear that they wanted the jury to# repair the women's reputation.

But more they wanted them to send a message that# this is not how healthy democracies behave.

GEOFF BENNETT: We heard from# both Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman,## who were subjected to Rudy Giuliani's lies about# them.

He RUBY FREEMAN, Former Georgia Election# Worker: Money will never solve all of## my problems.

I can never move back# into the house that I ca I always have to be careful about where I# go and who I choose to share my name with.

GEOFF BENNETT: How did their attorneys# make the case to the jury that the## extreme emotional distress, their damaged# reputations, that that was worth X-amount?

MILES PARKS: Well, it really was# kind of a two-prong approach,## where you had the practical# aspect, and th They had an expert witness who was a# marketing profes come in and show how these lies reached tens# of millions of Americans in the time after## voting ended in 2020, and then had her put# together a strategic communications plan,## essentially, what it would cost to counter# those lies and repair the reputation.

That estimate was put at roughly $47# million.

And so then, on top of that,## then they said, and how do you measure# essentially the emotional toll of this?## And both women who were affected testified.# Both women got emotional cried on the stand.

The jurors and the public saw, I mean, more# death threats than I could count.

We heard racist## voice-mails that were left for these women that# Shaye Moss' son reportedly heard.

And so all of## that was kind of taken into consideration when the# jury was coming up with this $148 million number.

GEOFF BENNETT: We heard Rudy Giuliani say# an appeal is on the way.

What happens next?

MILES PARKS: It's a little bit# unclear.

He says he's going to appeal.

I mean, throughout this entire process, one of# at torneys that for the plaintiffs say they want# to send a message that this is not acceptable,## Rudy Giuliani has continued to say# these lies that he is being sued for.

Here on Monday, after court ended on the# courthouse steps, Rudy Giuliani said,## everything I have said about those women is true,# and said again that they stole the election.

So what's next?

I think he is clearly indicating# that he's going to appeal this decision.

I think## what's a little more unclear is how this penalty# is going to affect whether he and whether the## former president whether other people who have# continued to spread these lies over the last## few years, whether this affects whether they# continue to do that looking ahead to 2024.

GEOFF BENNETT: NPR's Miles Parks, thanks for# coming in straight from the courtroom today.

We appreciate it.