Trump's Lawsuit Against ABC Can Proceed, Judge Says

A Florida judge has allowed a defamation lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump against ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos to proceed, rejecting the network's motion to dismiss. The lawsuit arises from comments made by Stephanopoulos in March, where he inaccurately claimed that Trump was found "liable for rape" in a civil case related to allegations made by E. Jean Carroll. Trump celebrated the ruling on social media, labeling it a victory against "ABC fake news." The controversy began during a segment of Stephanopoulos' program "This Week," where he questioned Rep. Nancy Mace about her endorsement of Trump in light of the allegations. He referenced the jury's findings against Trump, which included a ruling of liability for sexual abuse but not for rape. Judge Lewis Kaplan later clarified that the failure to prove rape under New York law does not negate the common understanding of the term. In a related development, Trump has indicated he may withdraw from a scheduled presidential debate with President Biden, who recently exited the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump suggested that Fox News should host the debate instead, citing the changes in the race dynamics. He criticized ABC as "Fake News" and expressed a preference for Fox News to moderate a potential debate between himself and Harris. Fox News has formally requested to host the debate, proposing that their prominent anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum serve as moderators.