To resolve a defamation lawsuit involving anchor George Stephanopoulos’ false on-air claim that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll, ABC News has agreed to donate $15 million to Donald Trump’s presidential library.
ABC News apologized for Stephanopoulos’ remarks made in a March 10 segment on his “This Week” show in an editor’s note posted to its website as part of the settlement, which was made public on Saturday.
Additionally, the network will pay Alejandro Brito’s law company, Trump’s lawyer, $1 million in legal fees. A Florida federal court ordered Trump and Stephanopoulos to appear separately for depositions in the case next week, and the settlement agreement was finalized on Friday. Sworn testimony is no longer necessary as a result of the settlement.
Trump’s large, distinctive signature and an electronic signature with the initials GRS in place of Stephanopoulos’ name were both present on the agreement. The deal was also e-signed by ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks President Debra OConnell.
While sizeable, ABC’s contribution to Trump’s presidential library will likely cover just a fraction of the cost. Former President Barack Obama’s library in Chicago, for example, was estimated to cost $830 million as of 2021.
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