Orlando, Florida: Drama Unfolds as Trump Settles Defamation Suit with ABC News
In a surprising turn of events, it looks like President-elect Donald Trump has reached a major settlement with a leading news network. A sum of $15 million will flow from the network to a **presidential foundation and museum**, sealing the deal in the defamation lawsuit Trump filed against the network and anchor George Stephanopoulos.
The Scoop on the Settlement
Just this past Saturday, the details of the settlement were made public. Along with the hefty financial payout, the network is forking over $1 million to cover Trump’s attorneys’ fees and will also issue an official apology. Now, that’s what you call a serious acknowledgment! In the apology, the network will include an editor’s note on the online article that sparked this whole legal dust-up. It 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.”
What’s All the Fuss About?
Now, let’s take a step back and dig into what led to this lawsuit. Earlier this year, Trump filed suit in a Florida federal court, alleging that Stephanopoulos defamed him during a heated interview with GOP Rep. Nancy Mace. During the chat, Stephanopoulos reportedly mentioned ten times that a jury found Trump had “raped” E. Jean Carroll, a claim Trump has vehemently denied.
For those who might not be familiar, Carroll accused Trump of raping her in a department store back in the mid-90s. Fast forward to 2023, and a jury found Trump liable for what they termed sexual abuse, and they slapped him with a substantial $5 million award for both battery and defamation. In a separate verdict, Carroll received an additional $83.3 million due to defamatory statements made by Trump while denying her allegations.
Legal Loopholes and Court Proceedings
Of course, the road to this settlement wasn’t a smooth one. Earlier this year, a judge made it clear that Trump would have to prove whether claims made by Stephanopoulos were false and malicious. Just last month, an order was put in place for Trump and Stephanopoulos to provide depositions. The timing of this settlement is rather fortuitous for Trump, as it allows him to step back from a potentially tricky situation, avoiding questioning under oath. And let’s face it, being president comes with enough distractions!
Trump’s Litigation History
It’s also worth noting that Trump has quite the history of raising legal eyebrows. Not long ago, he slapped legal action against another network, demanding a whopping $10 billion in damages related to a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, arguing that it was an attempt to skew public opinion ahead of the election. That sounds like quite the tactic, right? The drama never seems to end when it comes to Trump and the media.
What Now?
The settlement marks another chapter in what seems to be a continuing saga between Donald Trump and mainstream media. As he prepares to step foot back into the White House, it remains to be seen how this will affect his relationship with journalists and news organizations moving forward.
In the meantime, it looks like ABC News and Trump have found a way to put this controversy to bed—at least for now. In a world where every statement can spark a legal battle, it’s a good reminder that what we say really does matter. Stay tuned because if history has taught us anything, there’s bound to be more twists and turns ahead!
