ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos faces scrutiny over his notable omission of a significant legal development during his latest broadcast.
According to Fox News, ABC News and Stephanopoulos agreed to pay a substantial settlement to avoid trial in President-elect Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against the network and its anchor.
The settlement, which includes a $15 million charitable contribution and $1 million in attorney fees, stems from Stephanopoulos's March 2024 interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. During the contentious exchange, the ABC News host repeatedly claimed Trump was found "liable for rape" in a civil case, a statement that became the focal point of the legal dispute.
The lawsuit centered on Stephanopoulos's statements during his interview with Rep. Mace on "This Week." The host made the controversial claim about Trump's liability ten times during the broadcast, despite the jury actually determining Trump was liable for "sexual abuse" under New York law, not rape.
Initially, Stephanopoulos maintained a defiant stance against the lawsuit. During an appearance on Stephen Colbert's show in May, he expressed his determination to continue his work despite legal pressure.
The ABC News anchor told Colbert:
Trump sued me because I used the word 'rape,' even though a judge said that's in fact what did happen. We filed a motion to dismiss.
The settlement agreement includes specific requirements beyond monetary compensation. ABC News and Stephanopoulos were required to issue statements of "regret" as an editor's note in their March 10, 2024, online article.
ABC News officially addressed the settlement with a brief statement. A network spokesperson stated:
We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing.
The $15 million payment will be directed toward "a Presidential foundation and museum to be established by or for Plaintiff, as Presidents of the United States of America have established in the past."
Instead of addressing the settlement news during Sunday's broadcast of "This Week," Stephanopoulos focused on other current events. His program covered stories about unidentified drones over New Jersey, ongoing conflicts in Syria, and Trump's cabinet selections.
In a related development, Stephanopoulos deleted his X account over the weekend. This digital departure coincided with the settlement announcement, though no official explanation was provided for the account deletion.
The settlement between ABC News, George Stephanopoulos, and President-elect Donald Trump marks a significant development in media accountability. The $16 million total payment and required statements of regret stem from Stephanopoulos's repeated claims about Trump's legal liability during a March 2024 broadcast.
This resolution sets a precedent for media responsibility and accuracy in reporting legal matters. The case demonstrates how precise language and legal terminology can have substantial financial and professional consequences for news organizations and their representatives.
