ABC News Will Pay $15M to Trump in Defamation Settlement

On Dec. 14, 2024, posts circulated on X saying that ABC would pay $15 million to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as a part of a settlement in a defamation lawsuit involving “This Week” host George Stephanopoulos. 

One such post (archived) learn: “BREAKING: George Stephanopoulos and ABC apologize to Trump and conform to pay $15 million to settle defamation lawsuit.”

(X person @bennyjohnson)

The declare facilities on a case filed in March 2024, Trump v. American Broadcasting Firms Inc. 

A doc for this case confirmed that ABC settled for $15 million in funds to Trump’s “Presidential basis and museum,” $1 million in charges to Trump’s authorized staff and the addition of a statement to the information channel’s authentic report. Subsequently, we now have rated this declare as true.

The lawsuit was filed at a district court docket within the Southern District of Florida on March 18, 2024, with the complaint studying: 

Extra particularly, and as set forth in better element under, on Sunday, March 10, 2024, Defendant George Stephanopoulos, through the airing of his weekly tv present, This Week With George Stephanopoulos, falsely acknowledged on a number of events that Plaintiff had been discovered liable by a number of juries for the rape of Ms. E. Jean Carroll.

The ultimate element within the above passage refers to a jury in New York, on Could 9, 2023, discovering Trump answerable for sexually abusing recommendation columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996. Nonetheless, within the course of, the jury rejected Carroll’s declare that she was raped.

The settlement between ABC and Trump was entered on Dec. 13, 2024. It bore the signatures of Trump, ABC representatives and the letters “GRS” within the area for Stephanopoulos’ signature.

The settlement consisted of three major parts. The primary was a $15 million “contribution” by ABC “to be made to a Presidential basis and museum to be established by or for Plaintiff, as Presidents of the USA of America have established prior to now …” 

ABC additionally agreed to incorporate the next assertion in its March 10 article, which had been added on the time of this writing: 

ABC Information and George Stephanopoulos remorse statements relating to President Donald J. Trump made throughout an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024. 

Lastly, ABC additionally agreed to pay $1 million in charges to Trump’s counsel, Brito PLLC.

A widely reported assertion from ABC commenting on the settlement learn: “We’re happy that the events have reached an settlement to dismiss the lawsuit on the phrases within the court docket submitting.”

Sources