In a significant legal outcome, ABC News has settled a defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump, agreeing to pay $15 million following inaccurate claims made by George Stephanopoulos during a broadcast.
**ABC News Settles Defamation Lawsuit with Trump for $15 Million**
**ABC News Settles Defamation Lawsuit with Trump for $15 Million**
ABC News agrees to a hefty settlement over false statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos regarding Trump’s legal history.
ABC News has reached a settlement of $15 million with Donald Trump in a defamation case stemming from statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos. The issue arose from an interview on March 10, 2024, where Stephanopoulos falsely stated that a jury found Trump "liable for rape" while discussing support for Trump with Congresswoman Nancy Mace.
As part of the agreement, which was first reported by Fox News Digital, ABC will not only compensate Trump but also clarify its position. ABC News plans to issue a formal statement expressing its regret over the inaccuracies presented during the interview, alongside a clarification note that will be added to its coverage of the story.
Furthermore, the settlement indicates an allocation of $15 million as a charitable donation directed towards a "Presidential foundation and museum" associated with Trump, mirroring past practices of former presidents. In addition, ABC will contribute $1 million toward Trump’s legal expenses.
Despite winning a separate civil case in 2023 regarding sexual abuse allegations brought by E. Jean Carroll, a New York court determined that Carroll did not sufficiently prove that Trump raped her under New York law’s specific definitions. This court ruling defined "rape" in a narrower context than the general understanding, as noted by Judge Lewis Kaplan.
During the contentious March broadcast, the claim made by Stephanopoulos was repeated multiple times, contradicting the jury's findings and leading to Trump's legal action. In response to the settlement, a spokesperson for ABC News expressed satisfaction at reaching an agreement to resolve the matter amicably.
This settlement adds to Trump's ongoing legal challenges, which include other lawsuits against media outlets such as CBS and CNN, as well as disputes involving statements made during interviews and public commentary.
As part of the agreement, which was first reported by Fox News Digital, ABC will not only compensate Trump but also clarify its position. ABC News plans to issue a formal statement expressing its regret over the inaccuracies presented during the interview, alongside a clarification note that will be added to its coverage of the story.
Furthermore, the settlement indicates an allocation of $15 million as a charitable donation directed towards a "Presidential foundation and museum" associated with Trump, mirroring past practices of former presidents. In addition, ABC will contribute $1 million toward Trump’s legal expenses.
Despite winning a separate civil case in 2023 regarding sexual abuse allegations brought by E. Jean Carroll, a New York court determined that Carroll did not sufficiently prove that Trump raped her under New York law’s specific definitions. This court ruling defined "rape" in a narrower context than the general understanding, as noted by Judge Lewis Kaplan.
During the contentious March broadcast, the claim made by Stephanopoulos was repeated multiple times, contradicting the jury's findings and leading to Trump's legal action. In response to the settlement, a spokesperson for ABC News expressed satisfaction at reaching an agreement to resolve the matter amicably.
This settlement adds to Trump's ongoing legal challenges, which include other lawsuits against media outlets such as CBS and CNN, as well as disputes involving statements made during interviews and public commentary.
