(DailyChive.com) – ABC News host George Stephanopoulos chose not to address a major story involving his network—a hefty settlement with former President Donald Trump—on his Sunday program, This Week.
The settlement stems from a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump against ABC News and Stephanopoulos. The network agreed to pay $15 million to settle the case, along with $1 million for Trump’s legal fees. Additionally, ABC and Stephanopoulos issued public statements of regret regarding comments made during a March interview. Despite the weight of the story, it went unmentioned during Stephanopoulos’ latest broadcast.
Instead, Sunday’s episode featured discussions on topics like unidentified drones in New Jersey, the conflict in Syria, and Trump’s cabinet picks. Notably, Stephanopoulos also deleted his X (formerly Twitter) account over the weekend, prompting further speculation.
The defamation lawsuit was filed after Stephanopoulos repeatedly claimed that Trump had been “found liable for rape” during a contentious March interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. At the time, Stephanopoulos referenced the case involving E. Jean Carroll, who had accused Trump of sexual assault. A jury ultimately found Trump liable for “sexual abuse” and defamation—not rape, a critical legal distinction under New York law. Despite this, Stephanopoulos repeated the term “rape” multiple times during the interview.
Initially, Stephanopoulos stood firm, stating in May that he wouldn’t be intimidated by Trump’s legal action. Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he defended his remarks, claiming that a judge had validated his wording. However, the settlement suggests ABC News and Stephanopoulos preferred to resolve the matter outside of court. The settlement also requires a note of correction to the network’s March 10, 2024, article summarizing the controversial interview.
As part of the settlement, ABC’s $15 million payment will fund a presidential foundation and museum to be created by Trump. The settlement also requires a note of correction to the network’s March 10, 2024, article summarizing the controversial interview. The note expresses regret for the original statements.
In response to the settlement, an ABC News spokesperson expressed satisfaction that the case was resolved. The network, however, made no mention of the lawsuit on air, raising questions about transparency.
While Stephanopoulos moved forward with other stories on Sunday, critics are left wondering whether such omissions undermine trust in media accountability.
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