ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos have agreed to a settlement with Donald Trump after the President-elect filed a lawsuit for defamation earlier this year.
As part of the settlement, Stephanopoulos and ABC News will pay $15 million to a foundation and museum which will be established by Trump, The Guardian reported.
Trump filed the lawsuit after taking issue with the comments Stephanopoulos made during an interview with South Carolina Republican representative Nancy Mace in March.
What did George Stephanopoulos say during the interview and comments in question?
During the interview, the ABC anchor repeatedly said Trump was found “liable for rape” after columnist E Jean Carroll filed a lawsuit against him. Carroll’s complaint concluded with the jury determining that Trump “sexually abused” her, but did not rape her.
As Trump now settles his lawsuit against Stephanopoulos and ABC Network, the parties have agreed for the network to transfer $15 million “to a presidential foundation and museum to be established by or for [Donald Trump], as presidents of the United States of America have established in the past …”
What ABC News says about the settlement
Additionally, Stephanopoulos and ABC agreed to issue an apology for the comments.
“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 statement reads, per The Guardian.
Stephanopoulos and ABC News will also pay $1m in attorney fees, per the settlement.
“We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing,” ABC News said in a statement, per The Hill.
