Trump sued ABC News and Stephanopoulos in March, after Stephanopoulos said in an on-air interview that two juries had found the former president "liable for rape" in a series of New York-based lawsuits. The anchor was referring to lawsuits brought by E. Jean Carroll, one of which accused Trump of rape and both of which accused him of defamation for refuting her claim.

In 2019, Carroll claimed that she had encountered Trump in a high-end department store in the 1990s and had been sexually assaulted by him in a dressing room. When Trump denied the allegation, Carroll sued him for defamation. While that case worked its way through various courts, Carroll filed a second suit in 2022, repeating her defamation complaint and further suing Trump for sexual battery. In its verdict in the second case, the jury specifically stated that Carroll's lawyers had not demonstrated that Trump had raped her. "Did Ms. Carroll prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that ... Mr. Trump raped Ms. Carroll?" the verdict form asked. The jury responded, "No." Once Carroll's first case finally reached a jury in January of 2024, they also rejected the claim that Trump had raped Carroll.

In a March 10, 2024, interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Stephanopoulos asked how the congresswoman, a rape victim herself, could endorse Trump, whom he claimed had been found "liable for rape" on two separate occasions. "Judges and two separate juries have found him liable for rape and for defaming the victim of that rape. How do you square your endorsement of Donald Trump with the testimony we just saw?" Stephanopoulos asked. He repeated the claim that Trump had been found "liable for rape" 10 times. An article was subsequently published by ABC News repeating the claims. Neither Stephanopoulos nor ABC News issued a retraction, correction, or apology—until now.

According to Fox News, ABC News agreed on Saturday to make a $15 million "charitable contribution" to a foundation and museum to be established by Trump as president. The Hill reported that the money will be used for Trump's "future presidential library and foundation." ABC News and Stephanopoulos also agreed to attach a correction to published articles that quote or reference Stephanopoulos' comments, which will read, "ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC's This Week on March 10, 2024." The network will also pay $1 million towards Trump's attorneys' fees.

Although the settlement was publicly filed on Saturday, it was signed on Friday, the same day that a Florida judge had slated for sworn depositions in the case from both Trump and Stephanopoulos, according to The Washington Times. Author, reporter, and political commentator Mike Cernovich suggested that ABC News may have been "afraid of having its emails made public during discovery. That's why they settled." Stephanopoulos' social media account on X was also deleted after the settlement was filed, leading some to suggest that ABC News may have been afraid of what Stephanopoulos would have said during his deposition.

Regardless, conservative commentators have touted ABC News' decision to settle as a victory. Former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly commented, "Shame on George Stephanopoulos & ABC, who were forced to settle after the judge ordered George to sit for a deposition. They couldn't have their star further embarrassed under oath. Good for Trump for fighting back." Washington Examiner columnist Byron York quipped that "ABC News and George Stephanopoulos have learned a $15 million lesson."

Jack Posobiec, a senior editor at Human Events and former Naval intelligence officer, joked, "Trump should dedicate a wing of his Presidential Library to Fake News and name it after George Stephanopoulos. Fitting since his mouth is going to fund so much." Conservative documentary filmmaker Robby Starbuck, who has been exposing major corporations for promoting woke policies, said, "I'm glad we're starting to hold the legacy media accountable when they lie with malice." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

S.A. McCarthy serves as a news writer at The Washington Stand.

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