ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million and issue a statement of apology to settle the defamation lawsuit brought against George Stephanopoulos and the network by Donald Trump after the anchor inaccurately stated the president-elect was liable for rape. This settlement was publicly disclosed on November 11, 2024, following its filing and release.
According to the settlement, "ABC News will cause a transfer of $15 million to be made to a presidential foundation and museum established for the Plaintiff." The network is also required to issue this statement: "ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements concerning President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s 'This Week' on March 10, 2024." This statement will accompany the original interview as an editor’s note.
Trump sued ABC and Stephanopoulos after the "This Week" host stated during the March 10 broadcast, without qualification, of Trump being civilly liable for raping journalist E. Jean Carroll. The lawsuit was initiated on March 19, 2024, not long after the interview aired.
The settlement coincides with developments in Trump's legal battles; just days earlier, Federal Judge Lisette M. Reid ordered Trump to sit for deposition linked to the defamation lawsuit, as reported by the New York Times. The agreement requires ABC to also pay $1 million for Trump's legal fees, totaling $16 million to resolve the lawsuit.
Notably, this case has sparked reactions from various commentators and media professionals. MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend remarked, "It feels like it has a real chilling effect," after the settlement's announcement. Sanders-Townsend expressed concern over the significant financial repercussions for ABC News and Stephanopoulos, particularly highlighting Stephanopoulos’ agreement to pay $1 million of his personal funds to Trump’s attorney.
Further discussing the broader impact of the settlement, Brendan Carr, the incoming chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), criticized ABC for contributing to what he described as the erosion of public trust within mainstream media. Carr issued this criticism directly to Disney's CEO Bob Iger, stating, "Americans no longer trust the national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly," referencing the defamation case against Trump.
It was emphasized by Carr how this situation reflects poorly on ABC, raising concerns about the importance of local news media maintaining accurate and reliable reporting to restore public faith. His comments place the matter of trust firmly within the current media paradigm, exacerbated by high-profile legal disputes like this one.
Stephanopoulos’ misstatements were particularly damaging because they incorrectly characterized the judicial findings against Trump. Neither of the verdicts involved confirmed rape as defined by New York law. Despite being found liable for defaming Carroll and sexual abuse, the jury's findings fell short of the legal definition of rape.
Carroll herself has been fighting legal battles against Trump since bringing her allegations to light through her 2019 memoir, detailing how Trump supposedly raped her in the mid-1990s at Bergdorf Goodman, after their paths crossed at the department store.
The fact remains, following Carroll’s earlier lawsuits against Trump, the jury concluded Trump must pay $5 million, as well as $83.3 million at another trial this year due to separate defamation charges. Trump's legal team has indicated they are appealing the verdicts, seeking to overturn the damages awarded.
Looking at the ramifications of the ABC settlement, it offers poignant commentary on media accountability; media outlets are now fraught with the challenges of providing accurate reporting without the looming threat of lawsuits. Public figures like Trump continue to challenge statements made about them, contributing to what some see as a chilling effect on journalistic expression.
Given how quickly this settlement came following legal developments pertaining to Trump, it may serve to influence how news organizations critically assess their reporting around high-stakes political figures. How they navigate these challenges will inevitably shape not only their reputations but also the public's trust moving forward.
