Staff Reports
In a classic case of media malpractice, ABC News has found itself $15 million poorer after settling a defamation lawsuit brought by none other than President-elect Donald Trump. The suit stemmed from comments made by George Stephanopoulos during an episode of “This Week,” where he falsely stated Trump was liable for rape. It seems the network decided that avoiding public embarrassment was worth the hefty price tag, as CNN’s Brian Stelter pointed out.
Stelter was quick to paint the settlement as a “major victory” for Trump. While some cases against Trump might fizzle out like a damp firecracker, this particular instance has reportedly emboldened the president-elect to consider more legal actions against other media outlets. After all, why let falsehoods about your character slide when you can hit back with a sizable wallet check? In what can only be described as a devastating blow to ABC’s credibility, they clearly opted to cut their losses rather than weather the storm of lawsuits and potentially damaging revelations.
Look at this news article from The Daily Caller: ‘Not The End Of The Story’: CNN’s Brian Stelter Speculates Why ABC Reached $15 Million Settlement With Trump https://t.co/mDx3buW84V
— CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN FIGHTERS FOR FREEDOM !!! (@timlatimer365) December 17, 2024
The drama surrounding this case has roots in the ABC interview that ignited Trump’s ire. During a segment featuring Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Stephanopoulos decided to bring up her past as a rape survivor in front of a nationwide audience while attempting to link it to an unrelated civil defamation judgment against Trump. While twisting narratives is hardly new for mainstream media, this blunt attempt to draw parallels must have been the last straw. Trump’s swift legal action came within just a week of the offensive remarks.
Stelter suggested that ABC may have been concerned about embarrassing internal communications leaking during the discovery process, which echoes a similar debacle Fox News encountered with the Dominion lawsuit. It’s safe to assume that ABC’s strategy was to bury these potential explosive revelations by throwing piles of cash at Trump. They must realize that if there’s one thing media outlets want to avoid, it’s the spotlight shining on their shoddy practices, questionable collusion, and perhaps rather compromising emails.
Of course, while ABC may have thought that settling would be the graceful way out, the $15 million payment itself raises eyebrows. Many see this as equally, if not more, humiliating. After all, while they were trying to sidestep the public eye, they only succeeded in proving that it’s cheaper to pay for silence than to stand up to the truth. While this drama may conclude for now, it’s clear that the battle between media credibility and accountability is far from over.
