ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to former President Donald Trump’s presidential library as part of a settlement to resolve a lawsuit over remarks made by anchor George Stephanopoulos. The lawsuit stemmed from comments Stephanopoulos made regarding the civil case filed against Trump by writer E. Jean Carroll.
Lawsuit Details and Allegations
The lawsuit, filed on March 19 in the US District Court for Southern Florida, accused Stephanopoulos of making malicious and false statements during a March 10 interview. The civil case, involving allegations from E. Jean Carroll against Trump, was discussed during the interview with US Representative Nancy Mace. The lawsuit alleged that the comments were widely circulated and repeated to third parties, causing damage to Trump’s reputation.
ABC News and Stephanopoulos Express Regret
An ABC News spokesperson issued a statement confirming that both parties had reached a settlement to dismiss the lawsuit under the agreed terms. The statement also noted that ABC News would publish a formal regret statement regarding the comments. By Sunday, the network is required to add a statement at the bottom of a March 10 online article that accompanied the interview. The statement will express regret for Stephanopoulos’s remarks, which suggested Trump had been found liable for rape, and apologize for any harm caused during the interview with Rep. Nancy Mace.
The court filing specifies the wording of the statement, which must read: “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.”
Settlement Conclusion
This settlement marks the resolution of the dispute over Stephanopoulos’s comments, with ABC News agreeing to a financial contribution to Trump’s library while acknowledging the need for a public apology.
