A Florida judge has denied a motion by ABC Television, a Disney subsidiary, to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by former President Trump against the network and its host George Stephanopoulos, allowing the case to move forward.
The suit stems from Stephanopoulos’ false claim in March that Trump had been found “liable for rape” in a civil lawsuit against the Republican presidential nominee.
“A jury may decide, after seeing that piece, that there was sufficient context. But a reasonable juror “We conclude that plaintiffs’ reputations have been tainted and, as a result, dismissal of the lawsuit is improper,” Judge Cecilia Altonaga of the U.S. District Court in Miami ruled Wednesday.
Trump sues ABC News and George Stephanopoulos for defamation
Trump promoted the ruling on Truth Social, writing, “A major victory was handed down today in the Florida Superior Court against ABC Fake News and Riddle George Slopadopolos. Powerful case! Before you know it, the Fake News Media will be forced by the Court to start telling the truth. This is a great day for our Country. MAGA2024!”
ABC News declined to comment.
A judge ruled Wednesday that former President Trump’s defamation lawsuit against ABC and its host George Stephanopoulos can move forward. (AP Photo/Paul Sancia)
Stephanopoulos’ comments were made during a tense exchange with Rep. Nancy Mace, D-N.Y., on his Sunday show “This Week” in March.
After playing the clip of Mace speaking about being a rape victim, Stephanopoulos asked Mace: “How do you reconcile your claim that you support Donald Trump with the testimony we just saw?”
ABC should defend George Stephanopoulos in Trump defamation lawsuit, legal experts say
“You supported Donald Trump as president. A judge and two separate juries have found him guilty of rape and defaming a rape victim,” Stephanopoulos said, referring to the legal victory of Trump accuser E. Jean Carroll.
Stephanopoulos repeated this claim 10 times during his ugly spat with Mace, even though the jury actually found Trump liable for “sexual abuse,” which is clearly defined under New York state law.
In a March interview, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos reiterated his claim that former President Trump had been found “responsible for rape.” (Screenshot/ABC News)
The ABC News anchor remained defiant about the lawsuit during an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in May.
“Trump sued me because I used the word ‘rape,’ even though the judge said what actually happened was rape,” Stephanopoulos said. “We have filed a motion to dismiss the case.”
After a federal jury found Trump responsible for sexual abuse but not for rape, Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote in a subsequent ruling that Carroll’s failure to prove rape within the meaning of New York criminal law did not mean she could not prove that “Trump ‘raped’ her in the way that many commonly understand the word ‘rape.'”
Legal experts say ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos inaccurately reported that Trump “was responsible for rape” 10 times
Days before Wednesday’s ruling, Trump, who dramatically withdrew from the presidential race on Sunday and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, had suggested he would cancel a scheduled presidential debate on ABC that he had agreed to participate in with President Biden, and suggested Fox News should host the debate instead.
“A debate with the worst President in the history of the United States, Evil Joe Biden, was scheduled to air in September on Fake News ABC, home of George Slopadopolos. No wonder Joe has dropped out of the race. Whoever the Radical Left Democrats choose, I believe the debate should be on Fox News, not biased ABC. Thank you!” Trump posted on Sunday.
ABC’s George Stephanopoulos has courted controversy in recent years for his antagonistic coverage of President Trump. (ABC/Paula Lobo via Getty Images)
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FOX News Media has sent a formal letter to the Trump and Harris campaigns. Propose your own argument During September.
“Now that Vice President Kamala Harris has become the presumptive Democratic nominee, Fox News Media is revising our debate proposal for this campaign. Given the changed situation in the campaign, we request the opportunity to host a presidential debate between Vice President Harris and former President Trump,” a letter to the campaigns signed by Fox News Media president and editor-in-chief Jay Wallace and Fox News vice president of political affairs Jessica Roker said Wednesday.
“We propose to hold the debate on Tuesday, September 17 in Pennsylvania, just as early voting begins in the state and other key battlegrounds. We are open to discussing the exact date, format, location, and whether or not there would be an audience,” Wallace and Roker continued. “Again, we believe the faces of our political coverage, Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, would be the best suited to host the debate.”
