ABC News host George Stephanopoulos ignored the news The massive settlement of his network With President-elect Donald Trump on his show on Sunday.
Fox News Digital It was first reported on Saturday that ABC News and Stephanopoulos had agreed to a settlement to avoid a costly trial over Trump's defamation lawsuit against the network and the anchor.
But news of the settlement did not appear on ABC's “This Week.” Instead, Stephanopoulos focused on stories about unidentified drones over New Jersey, the ongoing conflicts in Syria, and Trump's cabinet choices.
Him too Delete his X account During the weekend.
George Stephanopoulos avoided mentioning news about ABC's settlement with President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday. (Screenshot by ABC News)
It was Stephanopoulos The focus of the lawsuit After confirming that Trump was found “liable for rape” in a civil case during a controversial interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, D-R.C., last March.
After playing a clip of Mace discussing being a rape victim, Stephanopoulos asked her: “How do you reconcile your endorsement of Donald Trump with the testimony we just saw?”
“You endorsed Donald Trump for president. Judges and two separate juries found him liable for rape and defamation of the victim of that rape,” Stephanopoulos said, referring to the legal victory won by Trump's accuser E. Jean Carroll.
Stephanopoulos repeated this claim ten times during his dispute with Mace, despite the fact that a jury had already decided that Trump was liable for “sexual assault,” which has a clear definition under New York law.
He was the host of “This Week.” Initially challenging the lawsuit When asked about this in May, he added that he “will not be prevented from doing my job because of the threat.”
Stephanopoulos repeatedly claimed that Trump was found responsible for rape during a broadcast in March. (Getty Images)
“Trump sued me because I used the word 'rape,' even though the judge said that's what actually happened,” Stephanopoulos told show host Stephen Colbert. “We filed a motion to dismiss.”
According to the settlement, ABC News will pay $15 million in charitable contributions to “a Presidential Foundation and Museum to be established by or for Plaintiff, as established by Presidents of the United States of America in the past.” In addition, the network will pay $1 million in Trump's attorney fees.
Stephanopoulos and ABC News were also forced to issue statements of “regret” as an editor's note at the bottom of an online article dated March 10, 2024, about comments made earlier this year that prompted Trump to file the defamation suit. “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret the statements regarding President Donald J. Trump during an interview George Stephanopoulos conducted with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC's This Week on March 10, 2024,” the memo says.
ABC News said the network is “glad” the case has been brought to a close.
ABC News and Stephanopoulos paid a $15 million settlement in Trump's defamation lawsuit. (Getty Images)
An ABC News spokesperson told Fox News Digital: “We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit according to the terms contained in the court filing.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News' Gabriel Hayes contributed to this report.
