Former President Donald Trump has taken legal action against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos, alleging defamation stemming from remarks made during an interview on “This Week” with US Rep. Nancy Mace. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami, centers on Stephanopoulos’ assertion that Trump had been found “liable for rape,” which Trump’s attorney Alejandro Brito argues was false and made with malicious intent or reckless disregard for the truth.
Stephanopoulos’ questioning during the interview referenced a civil case in Manhattan where a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse under New York law but did not find him liable for rape. The lawsuit contends that Stephanopoulos’ repeated assertion of Trump being found “liable for rape” despite the jury’s explicit verdict amounts to defamation and has harmed Trump’s reputation.
In the 20-page complaint, Trump’s legal team asserts that Stephanopoulos was aware of the jury’s findings but chose to misrepresent them during the interview, leading to the widespread distribution of false information. The lawsuit accuses Stephanopoulos of disseminating these falsehoods to third parties, exacerbating the damage to Trump’s reputation.
The interview segment featuring Stephanopoulos and Mace gained significant attention online, with Stephanopoulos pressing Mace on her continued support for Trump despite the legal verdict. The lawsuit highlights this exchange as an example of how the false statements made during the interview were amplified and circulated to a broader audience.
The legal action against ABC News and Stephanopoulos is part of a pattern of Trump’s efforts to challenge media coverage he perceives as unfavorable through defamation lawsuits. Despite previous unsuccessful attempts to sue media outlets, Trump is seeking unspecified damages in this latest lawsuit, emphasizing the seriousness with which he regards the alleged defamation.
Overall, the lawsuit underscores Trump’s commitment to defending his reputation against what he perceives as false and damaging statements in the media. It raises questions about the responsibility of journalists like Stephanopoulos to accurately portray legal proceedings and the potential consequences of misrepresenting court decisions in the public sphere.
