Donald Trump has successfully negotiated a $15 million settlement with ABC News after anchor George Stephanopoulos made misleading statements during a live broadcast, falsely suggesting Trump had been deemed "liable for rape."
Trump Secures $15M Settlement in ABC News Defamation Case
Trump Secures $15M Settlement in ABC News Defamation Case
ABC News to compensate Trump following false claims of rape liability made by anchor George Stephanopoulos.
In an interview on March 10, 2024, Stephanopoulos repeatedly asserted this incorrect information while questioning Congresswoman Nancy Mace about her endorsement of Trump. Despite a jury's determination in a civil case that Trump was liable for "sexual abuse," the legal definition of rape under New York law is notably more restrictive, leading to the discrepancies in media reporting.
Under the terms of the settlement announced Saturday, ABC News is required to donate the $15 million to a presidential foundation connected to Trump and pay an additional $1 million toward his legal expenses. Furthermore, the network will publish an editor's note on its article discussing the interview, expressing regret for the misstatements made.
A spokesperson for ABC News indicated satisfaction with the agreement and confirmed the lawsuit would be dismissed as per the terms in court filings. This incident follows Trump's previous legal battles, including a 2023 civil court ruling where he was found liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll, though the jury concluded that the narrow definition of rape under New York law was not met.
During the broadcast, Stephanopoulos inaccurately claimed multiple times that "judges and two separate juries have found him liable for rape," which he repeated throughout the segment. This lawsuit marks another chapter in Trump's ongoing legal confrontations with various media outlets, including recently dismissed cases against CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post.
Under the terms of the settlement announced Saturday, ABC News is required to donate the $15 million to a presidential foundation connected to Trump and pay an additional $1 million toward his legal expenses. Furthermore, the network will publish an editor's note on its article discussing the interview, expressing regret for the misstatements made.
A spokesperson for ABC News indicated satisfaction with the agreement and confirmed the lawsuit would be dismissed as per the terms in court filings. This incident follows Trump's previous legal battles, including a 2023 civil court ruling where he was found liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll, though the jury concluded that the narrow definition of rape under New York law was not met.
During the broadcast, Stephanopoulos inaccurately claimed multiple times that "judges and two separate juries have found him liable for rape," which he repeated throughout the segment. This lawsuit marks another chapter in Trump's ongoing legal confrontations with various media outlets, including recently dismissed cases against CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post.
