ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump over statements made by its star anchor, George Stephanopoulos. The controversy stemmed from Stephanopoulos’s repeated claims during a 10 March 2024 broadcast that Trump had been found “liable for rape.” These statements were made during an interview with Congresswoman Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week.
The allegations were incorrect. A civil jury in 2023 found Trump liable for “sexual abuse” under New York law in a case brought by E. Jean Carroll, not rape. Legal experts have noted that New York’s definition of “rape” is narrowly construed, which was acknowledged in the jury’s verdict and the judge’s clarification. ABC News has now issued a public statement expressing “regret” for the false claims and agreed to other terms to resolve the lawsuit.
Settlement Includes Charitable Donation and Legal Fee Payment
As part of the settlement, ABC News will contribute $15 million to a Presidential foundation and museum to be established by Trump. This aligns with practices where former U.S. Presidents set up charitable institutions to support their legacy and public initiatives. In addition, the network has agreed to pay $1 million toward Trump’s legal expenses, further solidifying the financial and reputational cost of the erroneous reporting.
ABC News will also update its online coverage of the March 10 broadcast. The network plans to append an editor’s note stating: “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace on This Week on March 10, 2024.” A spokesperson for ABC expressed satisfaction with the settlement, saying, “We are pleased the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit.”
Legal History: Trump and Defamation Lawsuits
This settlement adds to Trump’s complex legal history involving defamation claims. In 2023, a New York civil court found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll, awarding her $83.3 million in damages for subsequent defamatory remarks. However, Judge Lewis Kaplan clarified that the jury’s verdict did not meet the specific legal criteria for “rape” under New York law, a distinction central to the ABC News case.
Trump has faced mixed outcomes in defamation lawsuits with other media organizations. A federal judge dismissed his case against CNN, where he alleged the network likened him to Adolf Hitler. Lawsuits against The New York Times and The Washington Post were also dismissed, while another lawsuit against CBS for alleged “deceptive conduct” involving Vice President Kamala Harris remains ongoing.
The March 10 Broadcast and Its Fallout
The March 10 episode of ABC’s This Week sparked significant controversy, with Stephanopoulos repeatedly asserting Trump was found “liable for rape” by “judges and two separate juries.” He made the claim ten times throughout the broadcast while questioning Nancy Mace’s endorsement of Trump. Legal experts have criticized the statements as grossly inaccurate and misleading.
The fallout from the broadcast prompted Trump’s legal team to file the defamation lawsuit and request sworn depositions from Stephanopoulos and other ABC News executives. While this settlement avoids the spectacle of a courtroom battle, it underscores the heightened scrutiny media outlets face in their coverage of high-profile political figures. For Trump, the settlement serves as a victory in his ongoing efforts to challenge media narratives and protect his reputation as he prepares to assume office once again.
Broader Media Legal Landscape
This settlement is part of a broader pattern of legal actions by Trump against media organizations. Previous lawsuits against CBS, CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post have been either settled or dismissed. The ABC News case represents another significant chapter in Trump’s ongoing legal strategy of challenging media narratives.
Stephanopoulos’s repeated assertion that judges and juries had found Trump “liable for rape” during the broadcast became the central point of contention. The settlement includes an explicit editor’s note to be appended to the original online article, acknowledging the inaccuracy of those statements.
The resolution underscores the critical importance of precise language and careful reporting in media, especially when discussing legal proceedings involving high-profile individuals.
