Former President Trump Files Defamation Lawsuit Against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos
On Monday night, former President Donald Trump took legal action against ABC News and its anchor, George Stephanopoulos, alleging defamation over statements made during an interview regarding the rape accusations against Trump by writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump’s complaint asserts that Stephanopoulos knowingly and maliciously made false statements during the interview, damaging Trump’s reputation.
Stephanopoulos’s Interview with Nancy Mace
During a contentious interview on the program “This Week,” Stephanopoulos pressed Republican Representative Nancy Mace, who is also a rape survivor, about her continued support for Trump despite the jury verdict finding him liable for sexually abusing Carroll in 1996. The jury awarded Carroll $88 million for battery and defamation.
Stephanopoulos repeatedly asked Mace to explain her stance on Trump in light of the jury decision. However, it is essential to clarify that the jury did not find Trump guilty of raping Carroll but only determined that he was liable for battery.
The Jury’s Decision in the Trump-Carroll Case
While a New York federal jury found that Trump had engaged in sexual contact with Carroll under the circumstances described in her complaint, they did not find that she had proven he raped her. However, in dismissing a countersuit several months later, the judge in the case concluded that the allegation that Trump raped Carroll was “substantially true.”
Judge Lewis Kaplan’s ruling stated, “Indeed, the jury’s verdict in Carroll II establishes, as against Mr Trump, the fact that Mr Trump ‘raped her’, albeit digitally rather than with his penis. Thus, it establishes against him the substantial truth of Ms Carroll’s ‘rape’ accusations.”
Trump’s Lawsuit Against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos
Trump’s lawsuit, which was filed in the Southern District of Florida, alleges that Stephanopoulos’s statements were “false, intentional, malicious and designed to cause harm.” The complaint seeks damages for defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
ABC News’ Response to Trump’s Lawsuit
A representative for ABC News did not immediately provide a comment on the lawsuit.
Trump’s Legal History with the Media
It is essential to note that Trump has a history of filing meritless lawsuits against the media. In one recent case, he was ordered to pay $392,000 in attorney fees to The New York Times for a failed lawsuit against the newspaper.