Trump Sues ABC News and Sunday Host Stephanopoulos for Defamation

Former President Donald Trump sued ABC, ABC News and Sunday host George Stephanopoulos for defamation over comments Stephanopoulos made during a broadcast about a jury verdict on sexual assault allegations brought against Trump by journalist E. Jean Carroll. During a March 10 interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, on his Sunday ABC television show, Stephanopoulos repeatedly said that multiple juries found Trump liable for raping Carroll, said the complaint (docket 1:24-cv-21050), filed Monday in U.S. District Court for Southern Florida in Miami. In 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexually assaulting Carroll, but not liable for raping her. Trump has appealed that verdict. “These statements were and remain false, and were made by Defendant Stephanopoulos with actual malice or with a reckless disregard for the truth,” said the complaint, which calls for punitive damages. ABC didn’t comment. As president and during his current campaign, Trump has repeatedly called for the FCC to act against the “licenses” of broadcast networks and cable news channels (see 2401170050).