ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump over false statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos. During a March 10 broadcast of This Week, Stephanopoulos repeatedly claimed that Trump had been found "liable for rape," a mischaracterization of a civil jury's ruling in 2023. The jury had determined Trump was liable for "sexual abuse" and defamation but not rape under the specific legal definition in New York. As part of the settlement, ABC News will publish a statement expressing regret for the inaccurate statements. The statement, to be attached to the online version of the March interview, will acknowledge the error and clarify the misrepresentation. The settlement also includes $1 million to cover Trump's legal fees, alongside a $15 million charitable contribution to a presidential foundation and museum to be established by Trump. The allegations stemmed from a civil case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of assaulting her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. A federal jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation but dismissed the claim of rape, citing the narrow legal definition under New York law. During his interview with South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace, Stephanopoulos incorrectly stated multiple times that Trump had been found liable for rape. This settlement follows several legal battles between Trump and media organizations, including lawsuits against CBS, CNN, and The New York Times. Some of these cases have been dismissed, but Trump continues to pursue others. The ABC settlement is a rare example of a network agreeing to significant financial and public terms in a high-profile defamation case. Trump has characterized the settlement as a victory against media bias, while ABC News expressed satisfaction with the resolution. The case highlights ongoing tensions between Trump and major media outlets, particularly over coverage of his legal and political challenges. — Agencies
