Trump Wins $15 Million Defamation Settlement Against ABC News

President-elect Donald Trump secured a resounding legal victory against ABC News and veteran anchor George Stephanopoulos in a high-profile defamation case, with the network agreeing to a $15 million settlement. The case revolved around Stephanopoulos repeatedly and falsely claiming on-air that Trump was “liable for rape,” a statement contradicted by the facts.

The controversy stemmed from a March 10, 2024, interview on ABC’s This Week, during which Stephanopoulos said nearly a dozen times that Trump was found liable for rape while speaking with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), herself a survivor of sexual assault. This gross misrepresentation ignored the federal jury’s actual verdict, which found Trump liable for sexual abuse not rape in a civil suit brought by journalist E. Jean Carroll.

Court documents reveal that ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to a future presidential foundation and museum that Trump intends to establish. Additionally, the network will cover $1 million in attorney fees for Trump. As part of the settlement, ABC News and Stephanopoulos are required to issue formal statements of “regret.”

In a statement released on Monday, ABC News admitted to the errors, saying, “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on This Week on March 10, 2024.”

This marks a rare moment of accountability for mainstream media, which has frequently faced criticism for its apparent bias against Trump.

E. Jean Carroll, the journalist behind the allegations, has drawn scrutiny for her own inconsistent and bizarre remarks. During a 2019 interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, she described her allegations in unsettling terms, claiming that “rape has so many sexual connotations” and calling it “sexy.” Cooper, visibly uncomfortable, cut to a commercial break.

Carroll also joked about using the money awarded in the civil judgment for a lavish shopping spree further undermining her credibility. Trump has consistently denied her allegations, and he was never criminally charged.

This victory is a sharp rebuke to media outlets that have long targeted Trump with misinformation. The settlement not only vindicates Trump but also sets a precedent: baseless claims and political bias in reporting will no longer go unchecked.

As Trump prepares to take office in 2024, his unwavering defense against defamatory attacks signals a new era of holding media accountable for their actions. This case serves as a stark reminder that words matter, and false narratives come with consequences.

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