ABC News and its anchor George Stephanopoulos have reached a settlement with President-elect Donald Trump in a defamation lawsuit, agreeing to pay a $15 million charitable contribution, $1 million to cover Trump’s attorney fees, and issue an apology.
A joint notice, filed on Dec. 14, indicates that the parties have both entered into a written settlement agreement, resolving the legal dispute that began when Trump sued ABC News and Stephanopoulos in the Southern District of Florida, alleging defamation after Stephanopoulos claimed on air that Trump was “found liable for rape” by a federal jury.
The settlement agreement, filed on Dec. 14 alongside the joint notice, indicates that the settlement was motivated by the desire to “avoid the further expense, inconvenience and distraction of litigation.”
As part of the agreement, Stephanopoulos and ABC News will publish a statement of regret as an editor’s note at the bottom of a March 10, 2024, online article, addressing comments made earlier this year that led Trump to file the lawsuit.
“ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024,” the statement