ABC News To Pay $15 Million To Donald Trump's Presidential Library On Account Of Defamation.
New York, US: ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to Donald Trump’s presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed after ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, who made an inaccurate statement on air, saying that Trump had been found liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll.
As part of the settlement, ABC News posted an editor’s note on its website expressing regret over Stephanopoulos’ statements on Friday.
The settlement agreement also requires ABC News to pay $1 million in legal fees to Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito.
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The $15 million payment will be made to a non-profit organisation established in connection with Trump’s presidential library.
Donald Trump had sued ABC News and Stephanopoulos in federal court in Miami, claiming that Stephanopoulos’ statements were defamatory.
The lawsuit was related to Carroll’s allegations that Trump had raped her in the 1990s. Trump denied the allegations, and the case went to trial.
ABC News spokesperson Jeannie Kedas said to AP, “We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing.”
Although Trump was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, the jury did not find him liable for rape as defined under New York law.
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Trump is now appealing the verdicts that this settlement agreement brings an end to the defamation lawsuit with ABC News agreeing to make the payments to Trump’s presidential library and legal fees.
