ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million and issue a statement of apology to settle the defamation lawsuit brought by Donald Trump against George Stephanopoulos and the network after the host falsely stated that the president-elect was liable for rape . This is all evident from a copy of the settlement, which was filed and released to the public on Saturday.
“ABC will make a transfer in the amount of [$15 million] will be transferred to a presidential foundation and a museum to be established by or for the plaintiff,” the settlement reads. “The Charitable Contribution shall be transferred by Defendants within 10 calendar days of the effective date of this Agreement to an escrow account to be established by Plaintiff’s counsel.”
ABC News must also issue a statement of apology “within one calendar day” of the settlement’s filing. The statement, which will be added as an editor’s note at the bottom of the interview that sparked the lawsuit, reads: “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements about President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy. Mace on ABC’s ‘This Week’ on March 10, 2024.”
Trump sued ABC and Stephanopoulos after the “This Week” host said the president-elect had been found liable for the rape of journalist and author E. Jean Carroll during a March 10 interview.
The settlement comes a day after Trump was ordered by federal judge Lisette M. Reid to make a deposition next week in connection with the defamation lawsuit, according to the New York Times.
ABC must also pay $1 million in fees to Trump’s legal team, as stated in the settlement.
Fox News digital was the first to break news of the settlement.