ABC News settles Trump defamation suit for $15M

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Sunday, December 15th, 2024

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Sources Aljazeera

ABC News has agreed to a $15 million settlement in a defamation lawsuit filed by President-elect Donald Trump, following inaccurate on-air remarks by anchor George Stephanopoulos. The anchor had incorrectly stated that Trump was “found liable for raping” writer E. Jean Carroll, a claim that stemmed from two civil cases against the president-elect.

The settlement includes a $15 million donation to a presidential foundation and museum dedicated to Trump, along with $1 million in legal fees. ABC News and Stephanopoulos will also issue a public apology during an upcoming live broadcast.

The case originated from Stephanopoulos’s mischaracterization of a jury’s 2023 verdict, which found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation – distinct from rape under New York law. In total, Trump has been ordered to pay Carroll $88.3 million across two separate trials. He is currently appealing both verdicts.

The settlement comes after Judge Lisette M. Reid called for depositions from both Trump and Stephanopoulos. It adds to Trump’s recent legal victories, including the dismissal of classified document charges and a pause in federal cases regarding the 2020 election.

Trump continues to face racketeering charges in Georgia and awaits further developments in other legal matters. This settlement marks another significant turn in the post-election legal landscape for the president-elect.