ABC Settle Massive Lawsuit With Trump
In a recent development, ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos have reached a settlement in a defamation lawsuit filed by President-elect Donald Trump. According to court filings from Saturday, the terms of the settlement include a public apology from Stephanopoulos and a $15 million contribution to the future funding of Trump’s presidential library. This agreement also allows both Trump and Stephanopoulos to avoid giving depositions, which had been scheduled for next week.
Trump filed the lawsuit in March 2024 after Stephanopoulos made inaccurate claims during an interview on This Week. The anchor stated that a court had found Donald Trump “liable for rape” in a civil case brought by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. However, the jury only found Trump liable for sexual abuse under New York law, not rape. Trump argued that Stephanopoulos’ comments misrepresented the jury’s verdict and damaged his reputation.
Under the settlement, ABC News will place $15 million in an escrow account for the purpose of supporting Trump’s future presidential library and foundation. Additionally, the network will pay $1 million in legal fees and publish a correction to the article related to the interview. The correction will read: “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret the statements regarding President Donald Trump said during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace on This Week in March, 2024.”
In exchange, Trump has agreed to dismiss the lawsuit and waive any future claims stemming from the interview. An ABC News spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the resolution, noting that the case will now be dropped based on the terms outlined in the settlement.
The lawsuit was poised to move toward trial after ABC’s attempt to have it dismissed failed. A judge had recently ordered both Trump and Stephanopoulos to meet for depositions as part of the discovery process. The defamation case centered on the claim that Stephanopoulos’ comments harmed Trump’s reputation during a critical time in his political career.
This legal battle is not Trump’s first encounter with defamation claims. He had previously filed a lawsuit against Carroll for her continued description of their 1990s encounter as rape, despite the jury’s ruling on the civil case. However, a judge ruled that the legal distinction between “rape” and “sexual abuse” in New York law was too small to invalidate Carroll’s description.
The settlement marks a significant conclusion to this particular chapter of Trump’s ongoing efforts to fight against what he views as false and harmful media narratives. As Trump continues to build his legacy, this agreement allows him to focus on his future political endeavors while putting this legal battle behind him.
