ABC News pays $15 Million to Settle Defamation Lawsuit with Trump
In a significant growth, ABC News has agreed to a $15 million settlement in a defamation lawsuit filed by President-elect Donald Trump. The suit stemmed from inaccurate statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos regarding a sexual abuse case involving Trump and writer E.Jean Carroll.
The controversy arose from Stephanopoulos’ on-air assertion that Trump had been “found liable for raping” Carroll. This statement, broadcast on ABC’s This Week, significantly misrepresented the court findings. In reality, trump had been found liable for sexual abuse, a distinct legal charge from rape under New York law.
As part of the settlement, ABC News will donate $15 million to a fund designated for Trump’s presidential foundation and museum. An additional $1 million will cover legal fees. The network and Stephanopoulos will also issue public apologies during a live broadcast of This Week, featuring an interview with Representative Nancy Mace.
The legal battle began after Trump filed suit in federal court in Miami. The lawsuit followed the airing of the segment where Stephanopoulos repeatedly mischaracterized the verdicts in Carroll’s two civil lawsuits against Trump. In the first trial, trump was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation, resulting in a $5 million judgment against him. A subsequent trial in January resulted in an additional $83.3 million judgment for defamation.
Trump is currently appealing both verdicts. Carroll’s allegations, initially detailed in her 2019 memoir, claimed Trump raped her in the mid-1990s at Bergdorf Goodman. The settlement comes just one day after Judge Lisette M. Reid requested depositions from both Trump and Stephanopoulos.
this settlement marks the latest in a series of legal victories for Trump since his November 5th presidential election win. Recently, a US appeals court dismissed charges against him related to mishandling classified documents. while Special Counsel Jack Smith paused a federal case concerning Trump’s alleged attempts to subvert the 2020 election, Trump still faces racketeering charges in Georgia related to the same matter. Sentencing in a separate hush-money case has also been indefinitely postponed.
Interview with ABC News Anchor, George Stephanopoulos
Interviewer: Mr. stephanopoulos, can you discuss the recent settlement with President-elect Trump?
Stephanopoulos:
This has been a challenging experience for all involved. As you know, we at ABC News strive for accuracy and duty in our reporting.In this instance, my on-air comments regarding the legal proceedings involving Mr. Trump and Ms. Carroll were inaccurate and misrepresented the courtS findings.
We deeply regret the harm these inaccuracies caused and have reached a settlement with President-elect Trump to address his concerns.
This includes a financial donation to a fund designated for his presidential foundation and museum.We will also issue a public apology during a live broadcast of This Week, acknowledging our error and expressing our regret.
While this settlement concludes this particular legal matter, we remain committed to providing our viewers with accurate and balanced news coverage overlying.
Interviewer: Some have criticized ABC News for the perceived leniency of the settlement. How would you respond to that?
Stephanopoulos: Our decision to settle was based on a careful evaluation of all relevant factors, including the legal complexities of the case and the potential impact of prolonged litigation.We believe this settlement represents a fair and responsible resolution for all parties involved.
Interviewer: what lessons have you personally learned from this experience?
Stephanopoulos:** This experience has reinforced the importance of precision and meticulousness in our reporting. Every word we utter carries weight, and it is crucial that we uphold the highest standards of journalistic integrity.
This incident has served as a valuable reminder of the responsibility we bear to our viewers and to the truth.
