ABC News has agreed to a $15 million settlement with President-elect Donald Trump, marking the end of a legal battle sparked by false statements from anchor George Stephanopoulos. The dispute arose from Stephanopoulos' erroneous claims about Trump during a televised interview.
The settlement funds, earmarked for Trump's future presidential library, will be paid into an escrow account handled by Trump's attorney, Alejandro Brito. This payment is classified as a charitable donation and is designated for a non-profit organization dedicated to the library's construction.
The controversy began when Stephanopoulos incorrectly stated on air that Trump had been found guilty of rape and defamation in civil lawsuits filed by author E. Jean Carroll. While Carroll did win her first lawsuit against Trump for sexual assault and defamation, resulting in a $5 million award, additional defamation claims brought by Carroll led to an $83.3 million judgment against Trump, which he is currently appealing.
In response to the incident and the ensuing lawsuit from Trump, ABC News has expressed regret over the inaccurate comments made during the Stephanopoulos interview. The network also committed to covering Brito's $1 million in legal fees as part of the settlement agreement. This resolution aims to close this chapter of legal dispute between ABC News and Donald Trump, focusing on rectifying the misinformation broadcasted about him.
The settlement funds, earmarked for Trump's future presidential library, will be paid into an escrow account handled by Trump's attorney, Alejandro Brito. This payment is classified as a charitable donation and is designated for a non-profit organization dedicated to the library's construction.
The controversy began when Stephanopoulos incorrectly stated on air that Trump had been found guilty of rape and defamation in civil lawsuits filed by author E. Jean Carroll. While Carroll did win her first lawsuit against Trump for sexual assault and defamation, resulting in a $5 million award, additional defamation claims brought by Carroll led to an $83.3 million judgment against Trump, which he is currently appealing.
In response to the incident and the ensuing lawsuit from Trump, ABC News has expressed regret over the inaccurate comments made during the Stephanopoulos interview. The network also committed to covering Brito's $1 million in legal fees as part of the settlement agreement. This resolution aims to close this chapter of legal dispute between ABC News and Donald Trump, focusing on rectifying the misinformation broadcasted about him.
