ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million towards Donald Trump’s presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos' inaccurate on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll. The settlement, made public on Saturday, includes an editor's note on ABC News' website expressing regret over Stephanopoulos' statements during a March 10 segment on his “This Week” program.
As part of the settlement, ABC News will also pay $1 million in legal fees to the law firm of Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito. The payment towards Trump's library is described as a “charitable contribution” for a non-profit organization connected to the library that has yet to be built.
ABC News spokesperson Jeannie Kedas expressed satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing.” The settlement means that Trump and Stephanopoulos will not have to sit for separate depositions as ordered by a Florida federal judge.
The settlement agreement was signed by both parties, with Trump's bold signature and an electronic signature for Stephanopoulos. ABC News is required to transfer the $15 million to an escrow account managed by Brito’s law firm within 10 days, as well as pay Brito’s legal fees within the same timeframe.
While the $15 million contribution is significant, it is noted that it will only cover a fraction of the estimated cost of Trump's presidential library. The lawsuit stemmed from Stephanopoulos' inaccurate statements during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, where he wrongly claimed that Trump had been found liable for rape, which was not the case in either of Carroll's lawsuits against Trump.
Overall, the settlement between ABC News and Donald Trump represents a resolution to a defamation lawsuit, with ABC News taking responsibility for the inaccurate statements made by one of its anchors.