ABC News Settles $15 Million Defamation Lawsuit with Donald Trump

ABC News settled with Donald Trump for $15 million to resolve a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump. The lawsuit stemmed from inaccurate on-air assertions made by ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos. During a broadcast, Stephanopoulos claimed that Trump never denied allegations made by writer E. Jean Carroll that he had sexually assaulted her. This statement was factually incorrect, as Trump had previously denied the allegations during a deposition and in subsequent statements.
The settlement agreement includes several key components:
  1. Financial Compensation: ABC News agreed to pay $15 million, which will be directed towards Trump's future presidential library and foundation.
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  2. Public Apology: The network and George Stephanopoulos will issue a public apology to Trump for the inaccurate statements.
  3. Legal Fees: ABC News will also pay $1 million in legal fees to cover Trump's legal expenses related to the lawsuit.
This settlement marks a significant financial and reputational cost for ABC News, highlighting the seriousness of the defamation claims and the network's desire to resolve the matter without further litigation.