ABC News Settles Donald Trump’s Defamation Suit for $15 Million

As someone who has followed George Stephanopoulos’ career with great admiration for his journalistic integrity and resilience over the years, I must express my disappointment at this recent turn of events. The accusations made against Donald Trump during an interview on ABC’s “This Week” were indeed a grave error, one that should never have been made in the pursuit of truth and justice.

ABC News has chosen to compensate $15 million and offer an apology as part of a resolution to the defamation case initiated by Donald Trump against George Stephanopoulos and the network. This action comes after incorrect statements about the president-elect’s involvement in rape were made on air by the anchor. The details of this settlement, which was made public on Saturday following its filing, have been disclosed.

According to the agreement, ABC will transfer $15 million to a foundation and museum set up for the plaintiff, which is also the president. The charitable contribution will be made by the defendants within 10 days of this contract becoming effective, into an escrow account that will be created by the plaintiff’s legal representative.

After the resolution of the lawsuit is filed, ABC News should swiftly release a statement of apology within a single day’s time. This statement will be appended as an editor’s note at the base of the interview that initiated the legal action. The content of the statement will be: “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos express their regret over comments concerning President Donald J. Trump, made during an interview conducted by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s ‘This Week’ on March 10, 2024.

Trump filed a lawsuit against ABC and George Stephanopoulos following remarks made by the “This Week” host during an interview on March 10, in which he stated that President-elect Trump had been found liable for sexually assaulting journalist and author E. Jean Carroll.

A day after being instructed by Judge Lisette M. Reid of the federal court to attend a deposition next week regarding the defamation lawsuit, Trump faced this settlement, as reported by The New York Times.

ABC is also to pay $1 million in fees to Trump’s legal team as stated in the settlement.

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2024-12-15 01:46