Donald Trump faces ongoing civil lawsuits for January 6 actions
- Trump's lawsuit against George Stephanopoulos and ABC followed his allegations of defamatory statements regarding E. Jean Carroll.
- The lawsuit was driven by comments made on-air, claiming Trump was found liable for rape, which was contradicted by the jury's actual findings.
- The $15 million settlement raised questions about media accountability and potential repercussions for journalistic practices.
In the United States, Donald Trump initiated a defamation lawsuit against ABC News and its host George Stephanopoulos related to comments made during a broadcast in March 2023. The lawsuit arose when Stephanopoulos stated that a jury had found Trump liable for rape concerning author E. Jean Carroll’s accusations. Although the jury did find Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation against Carroll, they did not find sufficient evidence to define his actions as rape under New York law. Trump's legal team argued that Stephanopoulos's statements were misleading and made with 'malice', asserting that they represented a significant deviation from the jury's findings, potentially misleading viewers. As the case progressed, the legal battle saw various maneuvers, including depositions ordered by a magistrate judge, requiring both Trump and Stephanopoulos to testify. However, Trump's deposition was mandated to occur in person, leading to speculation about the implications of these statements on media coverage of Trump and the potential chilling effect on journalistic expression in the future. Following the lawsuit, ABC agreed to a $15 million settlement, which included a public apology for the inaccurate statements made regarding the findings of the jury. This settlement sparked criticism from both political parties, suggesting that such outcomes could inhibit media freedom and lead to increased bias against political figures, ultimately raising concerns about the accountability of media for their reporting standards.