ABC chose to settle with Donald Trump over George Stephanopoulos’ on-air comments because they did not want the star host, who is “electronically sloppy,” to come under further scrutiny.
Stephanopoulos sparked a lawsuit after he falsely said on air in March that the president-elect had been “found liable for rape” — rather than the correct wording of sexual abuse — against writer E. Jean Carroll.
The network, which reportedly gave Stephanopoulos a contract extension despite the settlement, was reportedly eager to make a deal to avoid further embarrassment over his personal correspondence.
“Electronically it’s sloppy,” says a source Puk of Stephanopoulos, somewhat ironically, as Trump once called him “Slopadopoulos.”
More seriously, the source claimed: ‘They didn’t want the phone to be discovered.’
If the case had gone any further, Stephanopoulos would have been forced to give up his mobile devices and make his text messages and emails public.
The network confirmed reports that the host has signed a new, multi-year contract with the network, but sources told the website that this comes with a pay cut of $20 million to $25 million per year and the possibility that his role will eventually be reduced. .
Other reasons cited for the settlement included the likelihood that a pro-Trump judge and jury in Florida would likely rule against them and that they would be seen as being at war with a sitting president as they tried to cover for him.
ABC chose to settle for Donald Trump over George Stephanopoulos’ comments because they did not want the star host, who is “electronically sloppy,” to come under further scrutiny
Stephanopoulos sparked a lawsuit after he falsely said on air in March that the president-elect was “found liable for rape” rather than sexual abuse against writer E. Jean Carroll.
There were even fears that the case would be elevated to the Supreme Court, which could overturn decades-old protections for the press.
The settlement stipulates that the network will pay $15 million in charitable contributions to Trump’s presidential library. They will also pay his legal fees as part of the settlement, which total $1 million.
Stephanopoulos is reportedly “apoplectic” and “humiliated” over his old employers’ decision to pay the settlement money.
However, legal experts have argued that ignoring multiple network warnings not to say “rape” on air is likely to harm their ability to fight back against Trump.
Several anonymous sources are now telling it New York Post that Stephanopoulos was warned not to say “rape” multiple times before the broadcast aired.
The segment involved an interview with Mace, where Stephanopoulos pressed her on why she supported Trump after he was found liable for sexual assault.
Stephanopoulos said, “I’m asking you a question, why are you supporting someone who has been found liable for rape?”
Mace, who has seen her shares rise since Trump’s election, accused the host of trying to shame her by bringing up the matter.
The network, which reportedly gave Stephanopoulos a contract extension despite the settlement, was reportedly eager to make a deal to further embarrass him through his personal correspondence.
The congresswoman continued, “As a rape victim who has been shamed for years for her rape. You’re trying to shame me again.’
Mace was raped when she was 16 years old and says this drives her to be an advocate for women’s issues.
“I supported a man who I believe is the best for our country. It’s not Joe Biden. You watched the dueling meetings in Georgia yesterday.
And here you are trying to shame a rape victim. I think it’s disgusting.’
‘You keep saying I’m a disgrace to you. What does a question about a presidential candidate say…’ Stephanopoulos said. “You’re asking a rape victim,” Mace interrupted.
The settlement, first reported by Fox Newswas filed publicly on Saturday, revealing that the parties had reached an agreement in the lawsuit.
As part of the agreement, ABC must also post a note on its website expressing regret over the claim in a March 10 segment on Stephanopoulos’ “This Week.”
A statement from the network said: “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements about President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Representative Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024.”
Trump’s lawyers accused Stephanopoulos of making the statements with “malice” and disregard for the truth
The segment involved an interview with Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, where Stephanopoulos pressed her on why she supported Trump after he was found liable for sexual assault.
Trump had sued Stephanopoulos and the network for defamation shortly after the segment aired.
His lawyers accused Stephanopoulos of making the statements with “malice” and disregard for the truth.
A jury in New York ordered Trump in May 2023 to pay $5 million in damages for sexually assaulting writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s.
He was subsequently ordered to pay another $83.3 million for defamation after publicly denying sexually assaulting Carroll in a department store dressing room in 1996.
Jurors had deliberated less than three hours after a two-week civil trial in which the former president testified for just three minutes.
Stephanopoulos initially opposed the lawsuit, telling Stephen Colbert that he “would not be deterred from doing my job because of a threat.”
He added: “Trump sued me for using the word ‘rape’ even though a judge said it actually happened. We have filed a motion to dismiss.”
Trump is also suing CBS News for $10 billion in damages, saying the network “conducted deceptively” when it interviewed Vice President Kamala Harris in October.
Lawyers for the president claimed numerous violations by the broadcaster, including lying in a deliberate and malicious manner, according to a lawsuit.
They wrote that the complaint arises from CBS’ partisan and unlawful election acts and voter interference through malicious, deceptive and substantial news distortion intended to confuse, deceive and deceive the public.”
Trump and his team also claim that CBS News tried to provide coverage for Democrats by making Kamala Harris’ performance look better than it was.