ABC News agrees to pay $15 million in Trump defamation suit
‘Fox News Live’ co-host Arthel Neville reports on the breaking story.
ABC News has inked a new deal with its longtime anchor George Stephanopoulos as he cost the network millions in its lawsuit settlement with President-elect Donald Trump, Fox News Digital has confirmed.
Stephanpoulos, who reportedly made up to $18 million per year in his previous contract, was at the center of a defamation suit that was settled with Trump last week, but an ABC insider told Fox News Digital the timing between the settlement and his new contract were coincidental.
The extension to Stephanopoulos' contract followed reports of alleged behind-the-scenes drama at the Disney-owned network. Variety reported that Stephanopolous was "blindsided" by his bosses' decision to settle the defamation lawsuit and that he was "unhappy" with the result.
DISNEY, ABC NEWS CONTINUE TO TAKE HEAT FOR MASSIVE TRUMP SETTLEMENT: ‘LOW, LOW POINT’
ABC News inked a new deal with liberal anchor George Stephanopoulos on the heels of the $15 million defamation settlement the network made with President-elect Donald Trump. (Getty Images)
Network insiders had cast uncertainty whether the settlement would impact Stephanopoulos' future at ABC, according to Variety's report. However, hours after that story was published, The Los Angeles Times broke the news of the anchor's extension at ABC.
The lawsuit stemmed from an exchange Stephanpoulos had with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., in March on his Sunday program "This Week" in which he claimed ten separate times Trump was found "liable for rape," when the jury in the E. Jean Carroll civil case actually determined him to be liable for "sexual abuse," which has a distinct definition under New York law.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP/Evan Vucci)
Initially, the "Good Morning America" co-host was defiant in the face of Trump’s lawsuit, telling CBS' Stephen Colbert that he wouldn’t be "cowed out of doing my job because of a threat."
"Trump sued me because I used the word ‘rape,’ even though a judge said that’s in fact what did happen. We filed a motion to dismiss," Stephanopoulos told Colbert.
A judge ultimately tossed ABC News' motion to dismiss Trump's lawsuit and settled with the president-elect in December before entering a costly trial.
ABC News' George Stephanopoulos falsely said former President Trump was found "liable for rape" multiple times during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. (Screenshot/ABC News)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
According to the settlement, ABC News will pay $15 million as a charitable contribution to a "Presidential foundation and museum to be established by or for Plaintiff, as Presidents of the United States of America have established in the past." Additionally, the network will pay $1 million in Trump's attorney fees.
Stephanopoulos and ABC News also had to issue statements of "regret" as an editor's note at the bottom of an article on ABC News' website. The note reads, "ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024."
Liberal critics from rival networks including CNN, NBC and MSNBC accused ABC News of "bending the knee" to Trump.
Fox News First
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.