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President-elect Donald Trump has reached a settlement in his defamation lawsuit against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos. As part of the agreement, both the network and Stephanopoulos will issue a public apology. Additionally, ABC News will contribute $15 million to a presidential foundation, typically associated with a presidential library or museum, and will cover $1 million of Trump’s legal expenses.
In a statement, ABC News and Stephanopoulos expressed, “We 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.”
Trump initially filed the lawsuit in March following a contentious interview where Stephanopoulos questioned Mace, a prominent advocate and survivor of sexual assault, about her support for Trump. During the interview, Stephanopoulos highlighted Trump’s legal troubles, stating, “Donald Trump has been found liable for rape by a jury. Donald Trump has been found liable for defaming the victim of that rape by a jury.” Mace quickly countered by clarifying that the case was not adjudicated in a criminal court.
Mace expressed her frustration with the line of questioning, emphasizing the continued stigma surrounding sexual assault victims: “You’re trying to shame me as a rape victim—I find it disgusting.” She articulated her concern that mocking cases like those of author E. Jean Carroll undermines the experiences of other survivors.
The exchange centered on Carroll’s lawsuit against Trump, wherein she accused him of rape, resulting in a Manhattan jury finding Trump liable for sexual battery and defamation. Judge Lewis Kaplan later clarified the ruling pertained to New York’s narrow legal definition of “rape,” and did not invalidate Carroll’s assertion that Trump had assaulted her.
Stephanopoulos, in a separate discussion with Stephen Colbert, conveyed confidence in his position, stating, “[Mace] famously started her political career… when she was in the statehouse, talking about being a victim of rape. And so, I asked her, as a victim of rape, how she could support someone who a jury has found liable for rape.” He also noted that Trump’s lawsuit aimed to challenge his language regarding the jury’s findings.
Trump’s legal victories continue, as indicated by a recent ruling from Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan, who dismissed a federal election interference case against him, brought by special counsel Jack Smith. Trump has faced indictments in two federal cases linked to alleged 2020 election interference and the handling of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago.
Following his re-election in November, Trump is set to take office again in January.
BREAKING
President-elect Trump has settled his defamation suit with ABC News and George Stephanopoulos.
ABC News and Stephanopoulos have agreed to donate $15 million to a presidential foundation, the kind that presidents usually set up for their libraries, and they will also… pic.twitter.com/zuHrGFyApU
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) December 14, 2024
Source
www.thewrap.com