the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New York NY, In a high-profile resolution, ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos have settled a defamation lawsuit brought by President-elect Donald Trump. The agreement, filed in court Saturday, includes a public apology and a $15 million contribution toward the funding of Trump’s future presidential library.
Details of the Settlement
The settlement effectively prevents both Stephanopoulos and Trump from undergoing court-ordered depositions, which were set to take place next week. Trump initiated the lawsuit in March, accusing Stephanopoulos of making defamatory statements during a This Week interview. The anchor had claimed that a jury found Trump “liable for rape” in advice columnist E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuit. While the jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse under New York law, it did not find him liable for rape.
As part of the agreement:
- ABC News will place $15 million in escrow for Trump’s future presidential library and foundation.
- ABC News will pay an additional $1 million to cover Trump’s legal fees.
- The network will append an editor’s note to the bottom of the article related to the interview, clarifying the statements made during the segment.
The note reads:
“ABC News and George Stephanopoulos 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.”
In exchange, Trump has agreed to drop the lawsuit and waive any further legal claims tied to the interview.
Statements from Both Parties
An ABC News spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating:
“We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing.”
A spokesperson for Trump declined to comment beyond the written agreement filed in court.
Background on the Lawsuit
The legal dispute stemmed from Stephanopoulos’ remarks, which Trump’s lawyers argued misrepresented the jury’s findings and caused reputational harm during the campaign.
The case had progressed toward trial after ABC’s motion to dismiss was denied, with a judge ordering depositions from both parties as part of the discovery process. Trump sought unspecified damages for the alleged harm caused by Stephanopoulos’ comments.
Ongoing Legal Battles
This settlement comes amid Trump’s broader legal challenges, including a separate defamation claim he attempted to bring against E. Jean Carroll. That claim was dismissed after a judge ruled that Carroll’s description of her encounter with Trump as “rape” remained substantially true under New York law, despite the jury’s distinction between rape and sexual abuse.
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Weasel
The mainstream media is 99 percent slanted in favor of the Democrats
That is why their viewers have been leaving in droves.
Newspapers disappeared due to lack of readership and so will these fake news outlets
They NEVER ask the Democrats any questions other than whats your favorite ice cream, they fail to report the illegals at the border, and they hid the obvious Dementia of Biden the criminal
Hit him where it hurts…in the pocketbook !
That’s right all fake news, 75% of it is bullshit
The MSM is nothing more than the messaging arm of the DNC. Anyway, those days are almost over with the advancements in new media and the rapid decline in MSM ratings.
This guys just as fake news as CNN is