In a stunning turn of events, ABC News has agreed to a $15 million settlement to resolve a defamation lawsuit filed by President-elect Donald Trump, according to court documents released Saturday.
The lawsuit stems from controversial remarks made by ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos during a March interview with US Representative Nancy Mace, where he claimed that Trump had been “found liable for rape”—a statement that triggered the lawsuit.
As part of the settlement, ABC News will donate a substantial $15 million to a fund dedicated to establishing a “presidential foundation and museum” for Trump. Additionally, Stephanopoulos and the network will issue public apologies, acknowledging and regretting the misleading statements. ABC will also cover $1 million in legal fees for Trump.
This agreement comes just a day after Judge Lisette M. Reid had requested depositions from both Trump and Stephanopoulos, heightening the tension in the case.
Although Trump had previously been found liable for sexual abuse in a 2023 case filed by writer E. Jean Carroll, the defamation suit focused on the rape allegation—a different offense under New York law.
The settlement is yet another triumph in Trump’s series of legal victories since his election win. Last month, a US appeals court dismissed charges related to his handling of classified documents, and Special Counsel Jack Smith paused a separate case over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. However, Trump still faces racketeering charges in Georgia, and his sentencing in the hush money case remains indefinitely postponed.