ABC News has settled a defamation lawsuit filed by Donald Trump. The settlement involves a $15 million payment designated as a charitable contribution to a non-profit linked to Trump’s presidential library. An additional $1 million will cover legal fees for Trump’s attorney.
The announcement came Saturday, with ABC expressing regret for anchor George Stephanopoulos’ inaccurate statements on a March 10th “This Week” segment.
ABC News characterized the library payment as a “charitable contribution” for a non-profit associated with the upcoming library.
An ABC News spokesperson, Jeannie Kedas, stated that they are satisfied with the agreement dismissing the lawsuit.
Trump’s spokesperson declined to comment.
The settlement, signed Friday, preempted scheduled depositions for Trump and Stephanopoulos. Trump signed the agreement personally, while Stephanopoulos’ signature appeared electronically as “GRS”. Debra OConnell of ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks also e-signed.
ABC News must deposit the $15 million into an escrow account managed by Trump’s law firm within 10 days, along with the legal fees.
While substantial, the $15 million payment represents only a small portion of the projected library costs; President Obama’s library, for instance, had an estimated cost of $830 million in 2021.
Trump filed the lawsuit after a “This Week” segment where Stephanopoulos inaccurately reported the verdicts in E. Jean Carroll’s civil lawsuits against Trump.
During an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, Stephanopoulos wrongly asserted Trump was “found liable for rape” and “defaming the victim”.
The court verdicts did not include a finding of rape under New York law.
In the first trial, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation, resulting in a $5 million payment to Carroll.
A subsequent trial resulted in an additional $83.3 million judgment against Trump for defamation.
Trump is appealing both verdicts.
Carroll, in her 2019 memoir, accused Trump of rape in the mid-1990s at Bergdorf Goodman.
Trump denied the allegations, stating he didn’t know Carroll and hadn’t met her at the store.
After Trump’s denials, Carroll sued for damages and a retraction, alleging defamation.
During her April 2023 testimony, Carroll stated, “I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation, and I’m here to try and get my life back.”
Carroll testified that Trump assaulted her in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman.
She testified that she escaped the assault.
Judge Lewis Kaplan, in upholding the $5 million judgment, noted the jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse, but not for rape under the strict definition of New York law.
Kaplan explained that New York’s legal definition of rape is narrower than common usage.
Under New York law, rape requires vaginal penetration by a penis. Other forms of forced penetration are classified as sexual abuse.
The judge clarified that the verdict did not negate Carroll’s claim of rape in common understanding, stating the jury found that Trump “in fact did exactly that.”
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