Trump Settles Defamation Case with ABC News for $15 Million
ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to President-elect Donald Trump to settle a defamation lawsuit stemming from false statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos. The settlement also includes a public expression of regret from the network.
The dispute arose from a March 10 broadcast during which Stephanopoulos incorrectly claimed multiple times that Trump had been found “liable for rape.” This occurred while he was interviewing Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace and questioning her support for Trump.
In reality, a jury in a 2023 civil case concluded Trump was liable for “sexual abuse,” a term with a specific legal definition under New York law. The jury did not find him liable for rape as defined in the state’s penal code.
Settlement Details
As part of the settlement, ABC News will make a $15 million charitable donation toward a presidential foundation and museum Trump plans to establish. The network will also contribute $1 million to cover Trump’s legal expenses.
Additionally, ABC has agreed to add an editor’s note to its March 10, 2024, online article about the interview. The note will read:
“ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024.”
An ABC News representative stated, “We are pleased that all parties have come to an agreement and resolved this matter.”
Background on the Case
The controversy stems from a 2023 civil trial in which writer E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of sexually abusing her in a department store dressing room in 1996. The jury ruled in her favor for sexual abuse and defamation but determined she had not proven Trump committed rape under New York’s technical legal definition.
Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the trial, highlighted the distinction between the legal term “rape” and broader definitions used in other contexts, noting that New York’s legal definition is narrower than common modern usage.
Stephanopoulos’ Statements
During his interview with Rep. Mace, Stephanopoulos claimed on 10 separate occasions that Trump had been found liable for rape. The repeated misstatements prompted the lawsuit, which was nearing a significant milestone as both Trump and Stephanopoulos had been ordered to provide sworn depositions before the settlement was reached.
Trump’s Legal Battles
This case is just one of several legal disputes involving Trump and major media outlets. Trump has filed lawsuits against CBS and other organizations, though not all have been successful. For example, a defamation lawsuit he brought against CNN in 2023 was dismissed, as were similar cases against The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Despite the challenges, Trump’s team welcomed the outcome of the ABC News case, which includes financial restitution and a public acknowledgment of error by the network.
