The settlement includes a charitable contribution and a public apology for defamatory remarks made by anchor George Stephanopoulos.
**ABC News Settles Defamation Case with Trump for $15 Million**
**ABC News Settles Defamation Case with Trump for $15 Million**
ABC News compensates Donald Trump following false statements made during an on-air interview.
In a major legal decision, ABC News has agreed to pay a settlement of $15 million to former President Donald Trump to resolve a defamation lawsuit stemming from misleading statements made by its anchor, George Stephanopoulos. The controversy began during an interview on March 10, 2024, when Stephanopoulos inaccurately claimed that multiple juries found Trump "liable for rape," a statement that was repeated throughout the segment.
In an effort to make amends, ABC News will not only make the financial settlement but also issue a public apology acknowledging the inaccuracies of the statements made during the broadcast. As part of the settlement, ABC will contribute $15 million to a charitable foundation linked to Trump. Another $1 million will go towards covering Trump's legal expenses.
The incident occurred in the aftermath of a New York civil court ruling in which Trump was found liable for "sexual abuse" against writer E. Jean Carroll, though the court clarified that there was a narrower, legal distinction from the broader public understanding of rape. Judge Lewis Kaplan pointed out that while Carroll alleged rape, the court’s definition is much more constrained.
The controversy intensified when Stephanopoulos pressed Congresswoman Nancy Mace on her support for Trump, repeatedly reiterating the false claims about the legal verdicts against him. ABC News has expressed satisfaction at reaching a resolution, emphasizing its commitment to correcting the record.
In addition to this case, Trump is currently involved in multiple legal battles, including lawsuits against CBS and the BBC's US operations for separate allegations of misleading conduct. While Trump's defamation suit against CNN was dismissed earlier this year for lacking merit, the recent settlement with ABC highlights the ongoing contentious relationship between the former president and media organizations.
