ABC News Settles Defamation Lawsuit with Trump for $15M
ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit filed by President-elect Donald Trump. The lawsuit was in response to anchor George Stephanopoulos’ inaccurate statements during a live interview. The settlement, announced on December 14, 2024, requires ABC to make a charitable contribution to Trump’s future presidential foundation and museum.
The lawsuit stemmed from Stephanopoulos’ comments during a March 2024 interview with Rep. Nancy Mace. He incorrectly stated that Trump had been “found liable for rape” in the E. Jean Carroll case. However, while a federal jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, it did not find him liable for rape under New York’s legal definition.
As part of the settlement terms, ABC will also pay $1 million in legal fees to Trump’s attorneys. Additionally, they will publish an editor’s note expressing regret for the statements. The agreement was reached just one day before scheduled depositions for both Trump and Stephanopoulos were to take place.
Source: NBC News