In a significant victory for truth in media, ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit with President-elect Donald Trump.

It is one of the largest settlements of its kind against a major news network. The settlement, revealed Saturday, represents a decisive moment in the ongoing battle for media accountability.

The network’s capitulation comes after its chief anchor made repeated false statements about Trump during a contentious March 2024 interview. This only confirmed what conservatives have long argued about mainstream media bias and the need for journalistic integrity.

ABC News must not only pay the substantial settlement but also issue a formal statement of “regret.” This is a rare admission of error from a mainstream media outlet that typically maintains unwavering positions against conservative criticism.

From Fox News:
ABC News host George Stephanopoulos ignored the news about his network’s massive settlement with President-elect Donald Trump on his Sunday show…

News of the settlement, however, failed to appear on ABC’s “This Week.” Instead, Stephanopoulos focused on stories about unidentified drones over New Jersey, ongoing conflicts in Syria and Trump’s cabinet picks.

He also deleted his X account over the weekend.

George Stephanopoulos Ignores Court Ruling

In a telling development that speaks volumes about the settlement’s impact, ABC’s star anchor George Stephanopoulos deleted his X (formerly Twitter) account over the weekend, just as news of the settlement broke.

This action stands in stark contrast to his earlier defiant stance when the lawsuit was first filed.

The same anchor who confidently declared to Stephen Colbert in May that he wouldn’t be “cowed out of doing my job because of a threat” now finds himself at the center of a massive legal settlement that will help fund Trump’s future presidential library.

During the March 10, 2024, broadcast of “This Week,” Stephanopoulos repeatedly claimed that Trump had been found “liable for rape” while interviewing Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.).

The anchor didn’t just make this false claim once. He repeated it ten times during the interview, despite the fact that a jury had actually determined Trump was liable for “sexual abuse.”

That carries a distinctly different legal definition under New York law.

The Cost of Trump Slander

The settlement’s terms are particularly striking:

• $15 million contribution to Trump’s future presidential library foundation
• $1 million in legal fee compensation
• Required public statement of regret
• Mandatory correction to the original March 10 story

Perhaps most telling was Stephanopoulos’s conspicuous silence about the settlement during Sunday’s broadcast of “This Week.” Despite the network’s court requirement to state regret, George said nothing.

The anchor, who had previously boasted about opposing Trump’s lawsuit, chose to focus instead on stories about unidentified drones and cabinet picks.

“This settlement represents more than just a monetary victory,” said legal expert James Davidson.

“It sets a precedent for media accountability and demonstrates that even the most powerful news organizations must answer for false statements.”

The timing of the settlement is particularly significant. It comes just one day after a federal judge ordered both Trump and Stephanopoulos to give sworn evidence at depositions before Christmas—a confrontation that ABC News apparently preferred to avoid.

Trump Keeps Winning

This victory adds to Trump’s growing record of holding media organizations accountable.

While some outlets have successfully defended against his lawsuits, this settlement demonstrates that persistence in pursuing truth can yield significant results.

For conservative Americans who have long complained about media bias, this settlement serves as vindication.

It proves that, when challenged by facts and law, even the most entrenched media institutions can be forced to admit their mistakes and pay for their misstatements.

As America moves toward a new presidential administration, this settlement reminds us that accuracy in reporting isn’t optional. It’s essential to our democratic process. When media giants forget this fundamental principle, they may find themselves paying a very steep price indeed.

Key Takeaways:

• ABC News forced to pay $15M to fund Trump’s presidential library after false reporting.
• Major media outlet required to issue formal “regret” statement, marking rare accountability moment.
• George Stephanopoulos, who is responsible for the verdict, goes silent on settlement during Sunday broadcast.

Source: Fox News