ABC News, along with anchor George Stephanopoulos, has reached a significant settlement with President-elect Donald Trump, agreeing to pay $15 million to a foundation associated with Trump and an additional $1 million to cover his legal fees. This agreement was formalized in federal court in Miami on Saturday.
The lawsuit stemmed from remarks made by Stephanopoulos during a broadcast, in which he stated that Trump had been found liable for the rape of author E. Jean Carroll. Although a jury ruled last year that Trump had sexually abused and defamed Carroll, they did not find him liable for rape. Nonetheless, a federal judge later indicated that it was permissible to claim Trump was found liable for rape in “common modern parlance.”
As part of the settlement terms, first reported by Fox News, ABC News is required to append an editor’s note to the online article containing Stephanopoulos’ comments, expressing their “regret.”
“We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing,” stated a spokesperson for ABC News on Saturday.
This resolution follows a directive from a federal magistrate judge, who ordered both Trump and Stephanopoulos to undergo four-hour depositions next week.
Trump’s defamation suit against ABC and Stephanopoulos is one of several legal actions he has initiated against media outlets and political adversaries. Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump leveraged these lawsuits to enhance his visibility and bolster a narrative suggesting that his critics were unjustly targeting him. With his recent return to the White House, unresolved legal matters may present challenges for Trump, as he could be summoned to provide sworn testimony and submit related documentation.
