ABC News has reached a $15 million settlement on a defamation lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump, sparked by false statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos during an interview in March 2024. Stephanopoulos repeatedly asserted that Trump had been found "liable for rape," misrepresenting the findings of a New York civil court that stated Trump was liable for "sexual abuse," a term with a stricter legal definition under New York law.
As affirmative measures following the settlement, ABC News will donate $15 million to a presidential foundation and museum associated with Trump, echoing practices that past presidents have utilized. Additionally, ABC will contribute $1 million towards Trump’s legal fees and publish an editor’s note at the bottom of its online article about the March 2024 interview, expressing regret over Stephanopoulos's claims.
An ABC spokesman affirmed the company's relief at reaching an agreement for the lawsuit’s dismissal on the terms submitted in court. The controversy arose when Stephanopoulos questioned Congresswoman Nancy Mace about her support for Trump, repeatedly emphasizing false claims regarding rape. The legal clarity emerged from a 2023 New York court ruling which concluded that while Trump committed sexual abuse of E Jean Carroll in 1996, the narrow definitions in law did not find him guilty of rape under the law's specific criteria.
Trump still has ongoing legal battles, having previously sued CBS and was approved to testify under oath in a separate deposition with the anchor. He has also faced setbacks with dismissed lawsuits against CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. This latest settlement marks a significant moment in Trump’s ongoing legal struggles and media interactions during his current presidential campaign.
As affirmative measures following the settlement, ABC News will donate $15 million to a presidential foundation and museum associated with Trump, echoing practices that past presidents have utilized. Additionally, ABC will contribute $1 million towards Trump’s legal fees and publish an editor’s note at the bottom of its online article about the March 2024 interview, expressing regret over Stephanopoulos's claims.
An ABC spokesman affirmed the company's relief at reaching an agreement for the lawsuit’s dismissal on the terms submitted in court. The controversy arose when Stephanopoulos questioned Congresswoman Nancy Mace about her support for Trump, repeatedly emphasizing false claims regarding rape. The legal clarity emerged from a 2023 New York court ruling which concluded that while Trump committed sexual abuse of E Jean Carroll in 1996, the narrow definitions in law did not find him guilty of rape under the law's specific criteria.
Trump still has ongoing legal battles, having previously sued CBS and was approved to testify under oath in a separate deposition with the anchor. He has also faced setbacks with dismissed lawsuits against CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. This latest settlement marks a significant moment in Trump’s ongoing legal struggles and media interactions during his current presidential campaign.
