In March of 2024, ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos made a 2024 on-air comment saying Trump was found liable for rape in the E. Jean Carroll civil case.
That same civil case that Stephanopoulos was speaking of only found Trump liable for battery and felt that Carroll did not prove her argument of rape. Trump then immediately filed a lawsuit against ABC News for defamation, and ABC News responded to have the lawsuit dismissed, but the judged rejected the motion.
Now with a court set for April and ABC News has quietly made a decision to settle the lawsuit for $15 million. Many are questioning why did ABC News decide to settle rather than choose to defend their right to free speech. CNN News spoke with a trial attorney who believes the why ABC News settled is because they didn’t want to be actively litigating against a siting president.
READ MORE: Why ABC News settled with Donald Trump for $15 million
