Donald Trump Wins! ABC News Agrees To Pay $ 15 Million To Settle Defamation Case

Donald Trump is set to take office as the 47th President of the United States in January. This marks a significant achievement, as he becomes only the second president in U.S. history to lose reelection and then regain the presidency in a subsequent election. Additionally, Time magazine has named him Person of the Year, highlighting his influence and impact.

In a notable development, ABC News has agreed to pay USD 15 million towards Trump's presidential library. This settlement resolves a lawsuit concerning anchor George Stephanopoulos' on-air statement that inaccurately claimed Trump was civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll. The settlement documents were made public on Saturday.

ABC News Apology and Settlement Details

As part of the agreement, ABC News will issue a note expressing regret over the claim made during Stephanopoulos' "This Week" programme on March 10. Additionally, they will cover USD 1 million in legal fees for Trump's lawyer. ABC News stated, "We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing."

Trump had previously filed a defamation lawsuit against Stephanopoulos and ABC following an interview with Nancy Mace where the claim was made. Despite this settlement, it's important to note that Trump was found liable for sexually assaulting and defaming Carroll in 2023, resulting in a USD 5 million payment to her.

Legal Proceedings and Definitions

In January, Trump faced additional defamation claims and was ordered to pay Carroll USD 83.3 million. However, none of these verdicts included a finding of rape under New York law. Judge Lewis Kaplan clarified that while Carroll couldn't prove rape within New York's legal definition, this definition is much narrower than common modern interpretations.

Kaplan highlighted that New York's legal definition of rape is "far narrower" than how it is generally understood today. This distinction played a crucial role in the jury's decision-making process during both cases overseen by Kaplan.

The resolution of this lawsuit with ABC News marks another chapter in Trump's ongoing legal battles. As he prepares to assume the presidency once more, these developments continue to shape his public image and political journey.