ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to President-elect Donald Trump as part of a settlement in a defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by Trump following inaccurate statements made by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos during a broadcast earlier this year.
The controversy arose from a March 10 interview on ABC's "This Week," where Stephanopoulos incorrectly stated that Trump had been found liable for rape. This assertion was made during a discussion with Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina. In reality, a New York jury had found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation in a civil case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, but not for rape as defined under New York law.
The settlement, finalized on Friday, requires ABC News to contribute the $15 million to a presidential foundation and museum that Trump plans to establish. Additionally, the network will cover $1 million in legal fees for Trump's attorneys. As part of the agreement, ABC News will also publish an editor's note expressing regret for the erroneous statements made by Stephanopoulos.
An ABC News spokesperson commented, "We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing." The spokesperson further noted that the network is committed to maintaining journalistic integrity and accuracy.
The settlement was reached just as a federal judge in Florida had ordered both Trump and Stephanopoulos to sit for depositions in the case. With the agreement in place, these depositions are no longer necessary.
Trump's legal battles have been a focal point of his public life, with this case marking a rare victory in his ongoing disputes with major media outlets. The president-elect has previously filed lawsuits against other networks, including CNN and CBS, though not all have resulted in favorable outcomes for him.
The funds from the settlement are earmarked for a non-profit organization associated with Trump's yet-to-be-built presidential library. While the $15 million contribution is substantial, it is expected to cover only a fraction of the total cost of the library, which is anticipated to be a major undertaking.
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