ABC News to Apologize and Pay $15M to Settle Defamation Suit Brought By President-Elect Donald Trump

As a seasoned gamer who has navigated countless virtual worlds and battles, I find myself intrigued by this real-life scenario unfolding between Trump and Stephanopoulos. It seems like a game of chess where each move is carefully calculated, much like the strategies we employ to conquer our digital foes.

ABC News is set to pay $15 million to resolve a defamation lawsuit filed by President-elect Donald Trump, and they will issue an apology for the controversial remarks made by their news anchor, George Stephanopoulos, on shows such as Good Morning America and This Week, which ignited the legal action.

As stated in the submitted agreement, filed last Saturday and signed by Donald Trump, the anchor, ABC News, and Debra O’Connell (the chief of ABC stations), this is according to its contents.

According to the agreement reached, ABC News and Stephanopoulos are required to pay $15 million to a Presidential foundation or museum that the plaintiff will set up, similar to those established by past U.S. Presidents. This payment should be made within 10 days, but held in escrow until such a foundation or museum is indeed established. Additionally, ABC and Stephanopoulos are obligated to pay $1 million for Trump’s legal fees.

According to a representative from ABC News, they’re happy that both parties have come to a settlement and agreed to drop the lawsuit as outlined in the court documents.

Furthermore, ABC News will append a disclaimer to the bottom of their March online article central to the lawsuit. This disclaimer will read: “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos express regret for statements made by George Stephanopoulos during his interview with Representative Nancy Mace on ABC’s ‘This Week’ on March 10, 2024, concerning President Donald J. Trump.

Trump initiated a lawsuit against Stephanopoulos following his claim during an intense interview on ABC’s Sunday public affairs program that Trump had been declared liable for sexual assault in a civil trial.

The agreement was reached a day following the instruction for both Trump and Stephanopoulos to appear for questioning in the court case.

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2024-12-15 00:25