New York: ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to settle a defamation lawsuit stemming from false claims made by anchor George Stephanopoulos during a broadcast on 10 March 2024.
Stephanopoulos repeatedly stated that Trump had been found “liable for rape,” a claim that was incorrect.
The remarks occurred during an interview with Congresswoman Nancy Mace, in which Stephanopoulos challenged her endorsement of Trump by falsely asserting that “judges and two separate juries” had found him liable for rape.
The claims were repeated 10 times during the broadcast. In reality, a New York civil court jury in 2023 found Trump liable for “sexual abuse” of writer E. Jean Carroll but not rape, as defined under the narrow legal framework of New York law.
As part of the settlement, ABC News will contribute $15 million to a presidential foundation to be established by Trump, along with $1 million to cover his legal fees.
Additionally, ABC will append an editor’s note to its 10 March online article and issue a public statement expressing regret for the false remarks.
The note will clarify that Stephanopoulos’s statements were incorrect and acknowledge the legal distinction between “sexual abuse” and “rape.”
The settlement was first reported by Fox News Digital. An ABC News spokesperson said the network was “pleased” to resolve the lawsuit.
The lawsuit follows other high-profile defamation cases involving Trump. In the same 2023 civil case, Trump was ordered to pay $83.3 million to Carroll for defamatory remarks.
Trump’s lawsuits against The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and CBS have been dismissed in recent years.
Trump has also filed a lawsuit against CBS over an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, alleging “deceptive conduct.”
This settlement marks a significant resolution in Trump’s legal battles, particularly as he prepares to assume the presidency in 2025.
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