Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump claimed that during a heated interview with Representative Nancy Mace (RS.C.) on March 10, an ABC News host claimed that the former president “admitted responsibility for rape.” She is suing ABC News and George Stephanopoulos for defamation after she said several times on the air, .
Mace, a rape survivor, said she felt personally attacked when Stephanopoulos, a former aide to President Bill Clinton, asked her how she could support President Trump’s bid for the White House. Stephanopoulos said Trump was found “responsible for rape” 10 times during the exchange.
A federal jury in New York ruled in the 2023 civil case of advice columnist E. Jean Carroll v. Trump that Trump was not liable for rape but was liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The former president called the verdict “disgraceful” and denied all wrongdoing.
ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos inaccurately says President Trump was found ‘responsible for rape’ 10 times, legal expert says
Donald Trump is suing ABC News and George Stephanopoulos for defamation. (Left: Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images, Right: (Photographer: Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images))
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Florida, says Stephanopoulos’ statements were “false” and “given Stephanopoulos’ knowledge that these statements were demonstrably false, there was no evidence of actual malice.” or with reckless disregard of the truth. Court documents further state that the jury “explicitly found that Plantiff did not commit the rape.”
The lawsuit notes that Trump’s representatives contacted ABC after the interview to request a retraction, but the Disney-owned news organization did not apologize or correct the record.
“Since making these false, malicious and defamatory statements, numerous news outlets have continued to quote Mr. Stephanopoulos and claim that the plaintiff was found guilty of rape,” Trump’s lawyers said in a statement. It continues to be broadcast unfairly.”
Trump’s team requested a jury trial.
Nancy Mace hits back at George Stephanopoulos in heated exchange over support for Trump: ‘He’s trying to embarrass me’
George Stephanopoulos said former President Trump was found to be “responsible for rape” multiple times in recent interviews. (Screenshot/ABC News)
Mace accused Stephanopoulos of “humiliating” her during questioning, which led to her lawsuit.
“A judge and two juries found him liable for rape and defamation of the rape victim,” the ABC anchor told Mace. “How would you reconcile your support for Donald Trump with the testimony you just saw?”
“Well, let me tell you, I was raped when I was 16,” Mace said. “As any rape victim will tell you, I lived for 30 years with incredible shame for being raped. The reason I didn’t come forward was because of the judgment I felt. And it’s because of shame. It’s a shame you’ll never feel, George.”
In the exchange, Mr. Stephanopoulos insisted that his goal was not to “embarrass” her and said the questions were about the allegations against Mr. Trump in the E. Jean Carroll case.
Last week, Andrew McCarthy, a Fox News contributor and former assistant attorney general for the Southern District of New York, explained that Trump was not found guilty of rape.
“Mr. Trump was found civilly liable for sexual abuse. The evidence claimed that Carroll was sexually abused, but we were not sure whether it was digital or genital sexual abuse. “However, the jury found that rape was not proven,” but it was unanimous that Trump sexually abused Carol. This verdict meant that the jury found that Carroll had not been raped. does not mean; instead, the jury found that there was sexual abuse, but could not agree that it included rape. To be clear, this was a civil trial. The jury was not asked to find Trump guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and they did not. He has not been criminally charged with sexual abuse or rape, much less found him guilty. I haven’t received it,” McCarthy told FOX News Digital.
Nancy Mace’s Office Calls on ABC Women’s Group to ‘Demand an Apology’ from George Stephanopoulos
South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace will appear on “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos on March 10, 2024. (Screenshot of ABC)
ABC News declined to comment when contacted by Fox News Digital.
The network has previously supported Stephanopoulos.
“Mr. George did his job by asking relevant and meaningful questions of his viewers,” an ABC News spokesperson told Fox News Digital before filing the lawsuit.
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FOX News’ Jeffrey Clark contributed to this report.
