ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump over false statements made by its star anchor, George Stephanopoulos.
The lawsuit stemmed from Stephanopoulos’ remarks during a March 10 interview on This Week, where he incorrectly stated that Trump had been found “liable for rape.”
The settlement, first reported by Fox News Digital, includes a public statement from ABC News expressing regret for the comments and a $1 million payment towards Trump’s legal fees. As part of the agreement, ABC News will also make a $15 million charitable contribution to establish a presidential foundation and museum in Trump’s name, similar to those created by past U.S. presidents.
In a statement, an ABC News spokesperson said, “We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing.”
The lawsuit centered on Stephanopoulos’ repeated assertions during the broadcast that Trump had been found liable for rape by “judges and two separate juries.” Stephanopoulos made the claim ten times while challenging South Carolina Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace about her support for Trump.
However, the comments misrepresented a 2023 civil jury decision that found Trump liable for “sexual abuse” of E. Jean Carroll, a former magazine columnist. Under New York law, sexual abuse carries a distinct legal definition that does not equate to rape as commonly understood.
Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the Carroll case, clarified that while the jury determined Trump had sexually abused Carroll in a 1996 dressing room incident, she had failed to prove the narrower legal definition of rape under New York law.
Under the terms of the settlement, ABC News will add an editor’s note to its online coverage of the March 10 interview. The note will read:
“ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024.”
Trump’s legal team highlighted the settlement as a victory, emphasizing the importance of accuracy in media reporting.
The lawsuit against ABC News is part of Trump’s broader legal battles with media organizations. In recent years, Trump has sued multiple outlets, including CNN, CBS, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, alleging defamation and deceptive conduct. While some of these cases have been dismissed, others remain ongoing.
This is not the first high-profile legal challenge involving Trump and the media. In a separate case, Judge Kaplan ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million to Carroll for defamatory statements made after the sexual abuse verdict.
Trump has also initiated legal action against CBS for its handling of an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing the network of “deceptive conduct.”
The ABC News settlement underscores the tensions between Trump and major media outlets, as well as the high stakes of reporting on public figures during politically charged times.
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