ABC News Settles Defamation Lawsuit with Trump for $15 Million

[Social Media]

 

ABC News has agreed to a $15 million settlement with President-elect Donald Trump to resolve a defamation lawsuit stemming from false statements made by its prominent anchor, George Stephanopoulos. The case arose after Stephanopoulos repeatedly claimed during a March 10 interview that Trump had been found "liable for rape," a statement that was untrue.  

 

The controversy began when Stephanopoulos questioned South Carolina Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace about her endorsement of Trump. During the broadcast, he asserted, “judges and two separate juries have found him liable for rape,” repeating the claim a total of ten times throughout the segment. This led to swift legal action from Trump, who argued that the false statements were damaging to his reputation.  

 

As part of the settlement, ABC News will pay $15 million as a charitable contribution to establish a "Presidential foundation and museum" in Trump’s name. The settlement document states that the foundation will follow the tradition of similar institutions created by past U.S. Presidents. Additionally, the network agreed to cover $1 million of Trump’s legal fees incurred during the case.  

 

The dispute had escalated earlier this year when a federal magistrate judge ordered both Trump and Stephanopoulos to provide sworn depositions regarding the claims. However, the settlement has now precluded the need for further legal proceedings or testimony.  

 

Trump's legal challenges against media outlets are not new. In another ongoing case, he has sued CBS, alleging “deceptive conduct” in an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. In previous years, courts dismissed his defamation lawsuits against CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, where he claimed bias and misrepresentation. In one prominent instance in 2023, a judge rejected his case against CNN, which alleged the network had drawn comparisons between Trump and Adolf Hitler.  

 

The ABC News settlement, however, marks a significant outcome for Trump, whose legal battles with major media outlets often draw widespread attention. It also highlights the ongoing tension between the former president and prominent news organizations, which he frequently accuses of unfair treatment.  

 

The resolution of the case underscores the importance of accuracy in reporting, especially when discussing high-profile figures. For Trump, the settlement represents not only a legal victory but also an opportunity to establish a lasting legacy through the proposed Presidential foundation. For ABC News, it serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of broadcasting unverified or erroneous claims.

 

Based on a report by BBC 2024-12-16

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

Trump, the WINNER.

 

He's the MAN.

[jerrymahoney]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

Trump's legal challenges against media outlets are not new. In another ongoing case, he has sued CBS, alleging “deceptive conduct” in an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.

But that case -- Trump Sues CBS for $10 Billion Over Alleged Editing in Kamala Harris Interview -- isn't maybe going so well.

[thesetat]

3 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

But that case -- Trump Sues CBS for $10 Billion Over Alleged Editing in Kamala Harris Interview -- isn't maybe going so well.

That was when they changed what Harris said in the interview to show her giving a better reply than she had. CBS claims it was done for time allotment purposes although we all know differently. It will need a jury to resolve it. The ABC network knew they would lose so they opted to pay Trump the lesser amount than any jury would have meted out. 

CBS will fold and pay out also in a settlement if they see they are losing in the case or there is a chance they will lose. 

[jerrymahoney]

REDUX

Posted November 3

 

From the complaint filed in Amarillo TX Federal Court:

 

55. President Trump is a “consumer” within the meaning of the DTPA, since he is an individual who sought and received CBS’s broadcast services.

 

From the DPTA Texas statutes:

 

Sec. 17.45. DEFINITIONS. As used in this subchapter:

(4) "Consumer" means an individual, partnership, corporation, this state, or a subdivision or agency of this state who seeks or acquires by purchase or lease, any goods or services, except that the term does not include a business consumer that has assets of $25 million or more, or that is owned or controlled by a corporation or entity with assets of $25 million or more.

 

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/BC/htm/BC.17.htm

[frank83628]

That should shut a few of the derangement crew up

[JonnyF]

Good to see the lies about Trump being exposed. 

[jippytum]

Glad to see Trump recouping some of the losses incurred by the politically motivated judgements against him. 

[Wrwest]

I agree … legal settlements are often made to limit the cost involved and do not reflect truth or Justice thus … “The judge said the verdict did not mean that Carroll “failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape.’ Indeed ... the jury found that Mr. Trump in fact did exactly that.”

[Will B Good]

 

Trump was 'cleared' of rape on a legal technicality.

 

In NY rape is defined as unconsented vaginal penetration with the penis.......as the jury found he "only" used his fingers there was no rape case to answer.

 

Of course some on here might not consider using fingers to invade a woman's body as rape anyway.......I wonder how many of those have daughters?

 

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

In NY rape is defined as unconsented vaginal penetration with the penis.......as the jury found he "only" used his fingers there was no rape case to answer.

 

Have you got a link to where the jury said that?

[Will B Good]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

Have you got a link to where the jury said that?

 

 

......."the jury found"....is the correct terminology.......I don't think I said ....'the jury said'......did I?

[JonnyF]

13 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

......."the jury found"....is the correct terminology.......I don't think I said ....'the jury said'......did I?

 

So provide links to what they "found". 

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

So provide links to what they "found". 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/abc-news-defamation-settlement-george-stephanopoulos-b2664857.html

 

What the judge said in E Jean Carroll’s case

 

E Jean Carroll has contended that Trump assaulted her in a dressing room “where, among other things, he forcibly penetrated her vagina with his fingers,” Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote last year in the New York case

Under New York criminal law, “rape” involves vaginal penetration by a penis. Trump was ultimately found liable for penetrating Carroll with his hand.

 

Found.

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/abc-news-defamation-settlement-george-stephanopoulos-b2664857.html

 

What the judge said in E Jean Carroll’s case

 

E Jean Carroll has contended that Trump assaulted her in a dressing room “where, among other things, he forcibly penetrated her vagina with his fingers,” Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote last year in the New York case

Under New York criminal law, “rape” involves vaginal penetration by a penis. Trump was ultimately found liable for penetrating Carroll with his hand.

 

Found.

 

The judge was on the jury?

 

Fascinating. 

[CallumWK]

2 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/abc-news-defamation-settlement-george-stephanopoulos-b2664857.html

 

What the judge said in E Jean Carroll’s case

 

E Jean Carroll has contended that Trump assaulted her in a dressing room “where, among other things, he forcibly penetrated her vagina with his fingers,” Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote last year in the New York case

Under New York criminal law, “rape” involves vaginal penetration by a penis. Trump was ultimately found liable for penetrating Carroll with his hand.

 

Found.

 

But Carroll claimed that there was sperm on her dress. Does Trump ejaculate through his fingers, or does the whole story stink?

[Red Forever]

Oh dear. What looked like an open goal for the MAGA mob on here has turned out to be presumptuous.

[Lacessit]

12 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Trump, the WINNER.

 

He's the MAN.

Strange how many losers support him.

[Will B Good]

Just now, JonnyF said:

 

The judge was on the jury?

 

Fascinating. 

 

The judge 'directs' and the jury 'found'......really not that difficult.....but obviously that is not the aim of your comment.

 

Facing up to the fact Trump is a deplorable human being must be difficult even for someone with a closed mind.

[JonnyF]

Just now, Will B Good said:

 

The judge 'directs' and the jury 'found'......really not that difficult.....but obviously that is not the aim of your comment.

 

Facing up to the fact Trump is a deplorable human being must be difficult even for someone with a closed mind.

 

So the jury didn't find this at all.

 

The judge said it. 

 

Just as I thought. 

 

Took a while to get there...

[transam]

4 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

But Carroll claimed that there was sperm on her dress. Does Trump ejaculate through his fingers, or does the whole story stink?

He has got 2 hands, ya know..............😘..............😂

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

But Carroll claimed that there was sperm on her dress. Does Trump ejaculate through his fingers, or does the whole story stink?

 

Don't follow? Why might there not be sperm on her dress?. What have his fingers got to do with it?

 

Just grow a pair and face up to the fact he is a deplorable human being instead of making childlike comments to deflect.

[Lacessit]

13 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

 

The resolution of the case underscores the importance of accuracy in reporting, especially when discussing high-profile figures. For Trump, the settlement represents not only a legal victory but also an opportunity to establish a lasting legacy through the proposed Presidential foundation. For ABC News, it serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of broadcasting unverified or erroneous claims.

 

Based on a report by BBC 2024-12-16

 

 

 

 

I get it. News media are held to a standard of accuracy in reporting.

 

Social media such as X or Truth Social have no such obligation.

 

Madness.

[CallumWK]

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

 

Don't follow? Why might there not be sperm on her dress?. What have his fingers got to do with it?

 

Just grow a pair and face up to the fact he is a deplorable human being instead of making childlike comments to deflect.

 

The judge said there was no evidence that there was sperm on the dress, and talking about deplorable human beings, start looking in the mirror

[jerrymahoney]

There were 2 Carrol cases against Trump: The first one was defation only and was stalled while Trump was still President. The second case -- and the one decided by a jury -- was the assault case brought on by the one year suspension of NY State statute of limitations for sexual assault cases.

 

The comments above by Judge Kaplan  as to what is or is not 'rape'was in reference to Trump contesting that the Carroll I defamation case should go forward because the Carroll II jury did not find the rape charge applied.

 

This is the first page of the jury verdict form on the assault charges:

 

 

[riclag]

13 hours ago, Social Media said:

The resolution of the case underscores the importance of accuracy in reporting, especially when discussing high-profile figures. For Trump, the settlement represents not only a legal victory but also an opportunity to establish a lasting legacy through the proposed Presidential foundation. For ABC News, it serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of broadcasting unverified or erroneous claims.

Reminds me of when Trumps press

secretary went on Cnn before the 

Biden debate , bringing the receipts 

of Tapper references Trump to Hitler and other bias leftest rhetoric over the years !
It was brilliant  Karoline Leavitt forced Cnn to make a decent showing of moderating the debate .

He’s also got a 10 billion suit against

the deceptive CBS network.

 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-sues-cbs-news-10-billion-alleging-deceptive-doctoring-harris-60-minutes-interview

 

[Social Media]

A personal flame removed @Will B Good Please discuss without the need for childish personal attacks

[jerrymahoney]

15 minutes ago, riclag said:

He’s also got a 10 billion suit against

the deceptive CBS network.

Alleging consumer fraud.