ABC News caves to Trump, shells out $16 million over Stephanopoulos’ words—yet keeps him on board.
At a Glance
- ABC News settled a defamation lawsuit with Trump for $16 million
- George Stephanopoulos secured a new contract with ABC News despite the settlement
- The lawsuit stemmed from Stephanopoulos incorrectly stating Trump was found liable for “rape” instead of “sexual assault”
- The settlement has raised concerns about potential chilling effects on journalism
- Some view the decision as a strategic move by Disney to avoid prolonged legal battles
ABC News Settles with Trump, Keeps Stephanopoulos
In a stunning turn of events, ABC News has agreed to pay Donald Trump a whopping $16 million to settle a defamation lawsuit, while simultaneously renewing its contract with the very anchor at the center of the controversy, George Stephanopoulos. This settlement, which includes a $15 million donation to Trump’s presidential library and $1 million for legal fees, stems from Stephanopoulos’ incorrect statement that Trump was found liable for “rape” instead of “sexual assault” in a separate case. Trump was not found liable for rape, and Stephanopolous knew that when he made his false statements.
The decision to settle has sent shockwaves through the media industry, with many questioning the implications for journalistic integrity and the potential for future lawsuits. Despite the hefty payout, ABC News has chosen to stand by Stephanopoulos, signaling their continued faith in his abilities as a news anchor and political commentator, strangely.
ABC News will pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit that President-elect Donald Trump brought against the network and anchor George Stephanopoulos in March.
The settlement, which was publicly filed in the Southern District of Florida Miami Division on Saturday, states…
— Special Situations 🌐 Research Newsletter (Jay) (@SpecialSitsNews) December 15, 2024
Concerns Over Chilling Effects on Journalism
The settlement has raised serious concerns about the potential chilling effect on journalism and the erosion of First Amendment rights. Critics argue that such large settlements may encourage more lawsuits from Trump and his allies, effectively intimidating journalists and news organizations into self-censorship.
Katie Blankenship, Senior Director at PEN America, warns, “It sends a message to be quiet, it sends a message to err on the side of caution.” The fear is that news organizations may become overly cautious in their reporting, potentially compromising the public’s right to information.
Strategic Move or Capitulation?
While some view the settlement as a strategic move by Disney to avoid prolonged legal battles and potential backlash from Trump, others see it as a capitulation that sets a dangerous precedent. The decision was reportedly influenced by business considerations, including maintaining relationships with the Trump administration.
“We’re aghast, this is capitulation, but it’s also payback for how sloppy the press has been. We should have been more buttoned up and ready for this,” stated one entrenched media executive with oversight of network TV news.
The settlement comes at a time when ABC’s “Good Morning America” has fallen behind NBC’s “Today” in morning show ratings, adding pressure to the network’s decision-making process. It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Disney has opted for a costly settlement, having paid $177 million in 2017 to settle a defamation lawsuit over ABC News reports calling processed meat “pink slime.”
What the news business is saying in reaction to this settlement, however, is simply not accurate. Knowingly making false legal claims about a subject or person has never been protected speech. Until the era of Trump bashing, no legitimate news organization would have tolerated this dangerous and costly behavior from its reporters or anchors.
