ABC News will pay $15 million toward Donald Trump's future presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump. The lawsuit followed comments made by George Stephanopoulos, who incorrectly stated that Trump had been found "liable for rape" following a legal battle with columnist E. Jean Carroll. Although a jury did find Trump liable for sexual abuse, he was not found liable for rape, which led to the defamation claim against the network.
In March, anchor George Stephanopoulos stated that, "Donald Trump has been found liable for defaming the victim of that rape by a jury, and it’s been affirmed by a judge," misrepresenting the jury's findings regarding the case involving E. Jean Carroll. This statement was pivotal in Trump's defamation lawsuit, highlighting the risks media faces when conveying legal outcomes, particularly in high-profile cases.
The settlement agreement includes $15 million set to be placed in escrow for the purpose of establishing Donald Trump’s presidential library, alongside $1 million allocated for attorneys' fees. ABC News will also append a note to clarify the misunderstanding regarding Stephanopoulos's March statements, aiming to rectify any misinformation disseminated during the program.
In a statement, ABC News said, "We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing," emphasizing the desire to avoid prolonged legal disputes and the network’s commitment to correcting the record stemming from the erroneous claims made during the interview.
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