ABC News Agrees to $15 Million Settlement with Donald Trump
ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s presidential library as part of a settlement to resolve a lawsuit over comments made by anchor George Stephanopoulos. The lawsuit stemmed from remarks Stephanopoulos made during a March 10 interview, where he referenced a civil case brought against Trump by writer E. Jean Carroll.
Trump’s Lawsuit Cites Defamation
Trump filed the lawsuit on March 19 in the U.S. District Court for Southern Florida, accusing Stephanopoulos of acting with malice and disregarding the truth. The lawsuit claimed Stephanopoulos’ comments were widely disseminated and repeated by third parties, potentially damaging Trump’s reputation.
During the interview, Stephanopoulos questioned U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican and survivor of sexual assault, about her support for Trump. He inaccurately stated that Trump had been found liable for rape in connection with Carroll’s case, a claim that sparked the legal action.
Settlement Requires ABC News to Issue Public Statement
As part of the settlement, ABC News must issue a correction and express regret for Stephanopoulos’ statements. By Sunday, the network must publish a statement at the bottom of its March 10 online article accompanying the interview.
The required statement reads:
“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.”
An ABC News spokesperson confirmed the resolution, stating, “We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing.”
Broader Implications
The settlement highlights the ongoing tensions between media organizations and public figures over sensitive and potentially defamatory statements. This case underscores the importance of accuracy in high-profile reporting, especially in politically charged contexts.
