President donald j. Trump
President Donald J. Trump

ABC News Loses $15 Million Defamation Suit to President Trump

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1 min read
December 15, 2024

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — ABC News will pay over $15 million to fund a presidential library and museum for Donald Trump as part of a settlement in a defamation lawsuit filed by the president-elect in federal court.

The lawsuit stemmed from comments made earlier this year by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos regarding Trump’s potential liability in a New York civil case. The agreement, detailed in a seven-page settlement filed Saturday, ends the legal dispute and commits ABC News to provide substantial financial support for Trump’s planned library.

“ABC shall cause a transfer in the amount of fifteen million U.S. dollars to be made to a Presidential foundation and museum to be established by or for Plaintiff,” the settlement reads, emphasizing the resolution of all claims raised by Trump in the case.

The funds will be transferred to an escrow account within 10 days, to be released after the establishment of a 501(c)(3) entity by Trump’s team, according to the agreement. Additionally, ABC News will pay $1 million in legal fees to Trump’s attorney.

As part of the settlement, ABC News has also agreed to issue a public editor’s note acknowledging the matter. The statement, which must be appended to a March 10 online article, will express regret for Stephanopoulos’s remarks during an interview on the network’s “This Week” program.

This settlement marks the resolution of a contentious battle between the president-elect and one of the nation’s largest news outlets.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

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