BREAKING: Donald Trump Sues ABC News, George Stephanopoulos For Defamation

On Tuesday, presumptive GOP nominee and 45th President Donald Trump launched a lawsuit against ABC News and ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos after the host repeatedly slandered Trump by claiming that he was found "guilty of rape" in the E. Jean Carroll case. Despite making the claim multiple times, the New York jury found that Trump was not liable for rape.

The interview, which aired last week, saw Stephanopoulos questioning Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who is a rape survivor, why she would back Trump after he was found "guilty of rape." "You endorsed Donald Trump for president. Judges and two separate juries have found him liable for rape and for defaming the victim of that rape," the ABC News host claimed. "How do you square your endorsement of Donald Trump with the testimony that we just saw?"

Mace repeatedly pushed back against the misinformed host, explaining that the civil case had a lower threshold of evidence required than in a criminal proceeding. "It was not a criminal court case, number one. Number two, I live with shame. And you're asking me a question about my political choices trying to shame me as a rape victim," Mace said. 

Trump's lawsuit cites more than ten times that the ABC News host said that Trump was guilty of raping E. Jean Carroll. "George Stephanopoulos, during the airing of his weekly television show, This Week With George Stephanopoulos, falsely stated on several occasions that [Trump] had been found liable by multiple juries for the rape of Ms. E. Jean Carroll," the lawsuit, which was filed in Miami, says. "These statements were and remain false, and were made by Defendant Stephanopoulos with actual malice or with a reckless disregard for the truth given that Defendant Stephanopoulos knows that these statements are patently and demonstrably false. Indeed, the jury expressly found that Plaintiff did not commit rape and, as demonstrated below, Defendant George Stephanopoulos was aware of the jury's finding in this regard yet still falsely stated otherwise."

Trump, who recently posted a $91.6 million bond in the case, has often sued the media for lying about him or deceptively reporting about his actions or speech. He has previously sued The New York Times, CNN, and The Washington Post for defamation.

The former president did attempt to countersue E. Jean Carroll for repeatedly claiming that he raped her during various interviews in the media. Still, the judge rejected his motion, ruling, "The difference between Ms. Carroll's allegedly defamatory statements — that Mr. Trump 'raped' her as defined in the New York Penal Law — and the 'truth' — that Mr. Trump forcibly digitally penetrated Ms. Carroll — is minimal. Both are felonious sex crimes."

Not one, not two, not three, but four times @GStephanopoulos repeated the slander that President Trump was found “guilty of rape”.

Trump is now suing ABC and the slime bucket. Good, I hope they settle for $400 million. It’s long past time this bullshit is dealt with. pic.twitter.com/NxxBujAXvs

— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) March 19, 2024