President-elect Donald Trump has won a defamation lawsuit against the US company ABC News for $15 million (£12 million) following a host falsely stated numerous times that he was found ‘liable for rape’.
The news anchor, George Stephanopoulos, held an interview with South Carolina Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace on March 10th 2024, where the pair discussed Trump. Stephanopoulos queried how Mace could endorse trump after ‘judges and two separate juries found him liable for rape’. This statement was made 10 times throughout the interview.
Donald Trump was found liable in a civil case for ‘sexual abuse’. The definition of this under New York law does state rape. Trump consequentially launched a defamation lawsuit against the network, which was due to go trial in April 2025.
Following the settlement, ABC have posted a statement underneath the video of the interview stating their ‘regret’ for Stephanopoulos’ comments.
The settlement amount will be made as a charitable contribution to a "Presidential foundation and museum to be established by or for Plaintiff, as Presidents of the United States of America have established in the past". A further $1 million (£ ) will be made towards Trump’s legal fees in the defamation lawsuit.
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