
A federal judge has rejected ABC News and George Stephanopoulos’s motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump. The lawsuit arose from a March interview where Stephanopoulos repeatedly stated Trump was “liable for rape” during a discussion with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC). The civil lawsuit jury found Trump liable for sexual assault, not rape.
In a 21-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga dismissed ABC’s claims to protection, including their assertion of the “fair reporting privilege.” Altonaga, appointed by George W. Bush, emphasized that Stephanopoulos’s statements about the jury’s findings in a legal proceeding were the key issue. The judge concluded that a reasonable jury could find Stephanopoulos’s comments defamatory, making dismissal inappropriate.
Altonaga noted, “A jury may conclude Plaintiff fails to establish other elements of his claim… But a reasonable jury could conclude Plaintiff was defamed and, as a result, dismissal is inappropriate.”
Stephanopoulos referred to Trump as “liable for rape” ten times in the interview, despite Mace’s objections. Trump’s lawsuit, filed in Miami, seeks unspecified damages for defamation.
Trump celebrated the ruling on his Truth Social platform, calling it a “big win” for his case. He expressed hope that the ruling would force the “fake news media” to start telling the truth.