ABC News host George Stephanopoulos dismissed news of the station's massive settlement with President-elect Donald Trump on his show Sunday.
Fox News Digital first reported Saturday that ABC News and Mr. Stephanopoulos had agreed to a settlement to avoid a costly lawsuit over Mr. Trump's defamation lawsuit against the station and its anchors.
However, news of the settlement was not published on ABC's “This Week.” Instead, Stephanopoulos focused on topics such as unidentified drones over New Jersey, the ongoing conflict in Syria and President Trump's cabinet appointments.
He also X account deleted Over the weekend.
George Stephanopoulos on Sunday declined to address news of ABC's settlement with President-elect Donald Trump. (Screenshot from ABC News)
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Mr. Stephanopoulos was involved in the lawsuit after he claimed in a controversial interview last March with Rep. Nancy Mace, R.C., that Mr. Trump had been found “responsible for rape” in a civil suit. became the focus.
After playing a clip of Mace talking about being a rape victim, Stephanopoulos asked, “How do you square your support for Donald Trump with the testimony you just saw?”
“You supported Donald Trump as a presidential candidate, and a judge and two juries accused him of rape and “We have determined that he is liable for defamation of the victim's reputation.”
During his argument with Mace, Stephanopoulos repeated that claim 10 times, even though a jury had actually found Trump liable for “sexual abuse,” which is clearly defined under New York state law. Ta.
The “This Week” host was initially defiant about the lawsuit when asked about it in May, adding, “I'm not going to be intimidated into leaving my job.”
Stephanopoulos repeatedly claimed on air in March that Trump was responsible for the rape. (Getty Images)
“Trump sued me for using the word 'rape' even though a judge said it actually happened,” Stephanopoulos told late night host Stephen Colbert. . We have filed a motion to dismiss.”
According to the proposed settlement, ABC News will pay $15 million in charitable contributions to “presidential foundations and museums established by or for plaintiffs as established by past presidents of the United States.” In addition, the network will pay Trump's legal fees of $1 million.
Stephanopoulos and ABC News also issued a statement of “regret” in an editor's note at the end of the March 10, 2024, online article about comments made earlier this year that prompted the defamation lawsuit against Trump. had to be announced. The memo states, “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos would like to share with you Donald J. Trump's interview with Congresswoman Nancy Mace on ABC's This Week on March 10, 2024. “I regret the comments I made regarding the president.”
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ABC News said the department was “satisfied” with the conclusion of the case.
ABC News and Mr. Stephanopoulos have paid a $15 million settlement in Mr. Trump's defamation lawsuit. (Getty Images)
“We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit based on the terms of the court filing,” an ABC News spokesperson told FOX News Digital.
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FOX News' Gabriel Hayes contributed to this report.
