President-elect Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against ABC has been formally dismissed after the network reached a settlement worth $15 million with top anchor George Stephanopoulos.
The lawsuit was dismissed by a stipulation filed Monday and signed by Chief U.S. District Judge Cecelia Altonaga, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
“Having been informed of the settlement of the parties and having had sufficient notice on the premises, it is hereby ordered and adjudicated that the stipulations be approved,” the application states. “The above action is hereby dismissed with prejudice, with each party paying its own attorney's fees and costs.”
George Stephanopoulos did not mention ABC News' settlement with Trump's defamation lawsuit on his show Sunday.
The dismissal came after both sides reached an agreement to avoid a costly trial.
According to the settlement, ABC News agreed to pay $15 million in charitable contributions to “a presidential foundation and museum 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.
Mr. Stephanopoulos and ABC News also had to issue a statement of “regret” as an editor's note at the end of the March 10, 2024 article. online articles Regarding comments made earlier this year that led to Trump filing a defamation lawsuit.
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.”
President Trump made the remarks after Stephanopoulos claimed in a controversial interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R.S.C.) in March that he had been found “responsible for rape” in a civil lawsuit. filed a defamation lawsuit against him.
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?”
President-elect Donald Trump has been accused of being “not responsible for rape,'' even though a jury actually found him responsible for “sexual abuse,'' which is clearly defined in New York state. “There is,” he repeatedly claimed, prompting him to sue ABC News and George Stephanopoulos. Law. (Getty Images)
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“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.
After a federal jury found Trump responsible for the sexual abuse but not guilty of rape, Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled in a subsequent ruling that Carroll “proved rape within the meaning of New York criminal law.” “Just because she couldn't do that doesn't mean she couldn't prove that she was guilty of rape.” Mr. Trump “raped” her, as many people commonly understand the word “rape.” ”
The settlement came after U.S. Judge Lisette M. Reed. ordered President Trump Stephanopoulos was scheduled to appear at the deposition before the Dec. 24 deadline for defendants to move for summary judgment to avoid a trial.
President-elect Donald Trump points to America Fest in Phoenix on Sunday, December 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Scutelli)
Trump was represented by Florida attorneys Alejandro Brito and Richard Crews. The ABC settlement was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and both parties signed and agreed to the terms.
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An ABC News spokesperson told Fox News Digital at the time that ABC News was “satisfied” with the resolution of the case.
FOX News' Gabriel Hayes and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
