The broadcaster's agreement to settle a case over comments made about E. Jean Carroll lawsuits has sparked a backlash.

Summary

ABC News faces bipartisan backlash after settling a $15M defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump over anchor George Stephanopoulos’s inaccurate claim that Trump was “found liable for rape” in E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuits.

The settlement includes a public apology, $1M in legal fees, and a $15M donation to Trump’s presidential library.

Critics, including legal experts and political figures, accuse ABC of prioritizing profit over principle, arguing the case was winnable if litigated.

This follows broader debates on media accountability and legacy outlets’ handling of defamation lawsuits. Trump denies wrongdoing in Carroll’s related cases.

    • Nougat@fedia.io
      30·
      5 days ago

      Because at the time of the judgment, the legal definition of “rape” in the state of New York did not cover what Trump was found to have done to E. Jean Carroll.

      Stephanopoulos didn’t defame Trump. The legal definition of “rape” in NY was wrong, and I believe it has since been changed such that it would have covered Trump’s actions had it been correct at the time of his finding of liability.

      • resin85@lemmy.caEnglish
        13·
        5 days ago

        In NY, rape is legally defined as sexual intercourse. If this were in Florida, it would have been legally defined as rape (unwanted penetration with an object).

        This was nothing more than ABC paying into trump’s protection racket. They absolutely would have won in a trial.