ABC News has agreed to pay President-elect Donald Trump a total of $16 million and issue a public apology over a dispute involving anchor George Stephanopoulos.
- December 15, 2024
AceShowbiz - ABC News has agreed to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by President-elect Donald Trump by paying $15 million, which will be directed toward a foundation and museum to be established by Trump. The network will also cover $1 million in attorney's fees, bringing the total payout to $16 million.
The case stemmed from remarks made by anchor George Stephanopoulos during a March 10 segment of "This Week." Stephanopoulos incorrectly claimed that Trump had been found "liable for rape" in writer E. Jean Carroll's civil case.
A jury did find Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, awarding her $5 million, but did not find him liable for rape. Trump vehemently denied the rape allegations, calling them false and defamatory.
This significant settlement includes an editor's note to be added to the online article that originally published the interview. The note will state, "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."
The controversy arose when Trump sued ABC News, claiming Stephanopoulos' statements were "false, intentional, malicious and designed to cause harm." A federal court in Florida denied a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which paved the way for the negotiated settlement. The court also ruled that Trump and Stephanopoulos would need to sit for depositions if the lawsuit continued, a step now avoided due to the settlement.
This settlement highlights ongoing tensions between Trump and the media. In another recent example, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS over a "60 Minutes" interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, alleging election interference. Trump's litigation history emphasizes his combative stance towards media outlets and attempts to control narratives he views as damaging.
The settlement indicates a mutual desire to avoid prolonged legal battles and focus on moving forward. An ABC News spokesperson stated, "We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing."
