In a recent development, President-elect Donald Trump and ABC News host George Stephanopoulos have been ordered by a judge to participate in depositions next week.
This order comes as part of Trump's defamation lawsuit against Stephanopoulos and his network, ABC News. The defamation case was initiated after Stephanopoulos incorrectly stated multiple times during a March interview on "This Week" with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., that Trump had been "found liable for rape."
As reported by Fox News, lawyers for ABC and Stephanopoulos, who also hosts "Good Morning America," argued during a virtual hearing on Friday that Trump must be available for an in-person deposition before the Dec. 24 deadline. This deadline is crucial for the defendants to file a motion for summary judgment, thereby avoiding a trial. While Trump has agreed to a recorded deposition, a judge has insisted on an in-person deposition, citing the changed circumstances following the election.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette M. Reid has ordered that Trump participate in an in-person deposition during the week of Dec. 16. Judge Reid argued that Trump's previous argument of being too occupied during the campaign no longer holds. She stated, "hes now in a completely different posture, and he should be able to make himself available."
Nathan Siegel, the attorney representing ABC News, has expressed his willingness to accommodate Trump's convenience during the deposition process. Siegel has offered to travel to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and limit the deposition to four hours, possibly even scheduling it on a Saturday. Stephanopoulos, on the other hand, has been granted permission to conduct his deposition remotely.
Alejandro Brito, the legal counsel for the president-elect, has argued that Trump's position, despite the conclusion of the election, makes such a meeting challenging. Brito stated, "Im going to do everything in my power to make the president available. But there are limitations of my ability to do so. I have to factor the Secret Service into the equation." He assured the court of his immediate efforts to coordinate with Trumps staff to determine his availability next week.
The controversy stems from comments made by Stephanopoulos during a heated exchange with Mace on March 10. After playing a clip of Mace discussing her experience as a rape victim, Stephanopoulos asked her, "How do you square your endorsement of Donald Trump with the testimony we just saw?" He further stated, "You've endorsed Donald Trump for president. Judges and two separate juries have found him liable for rape and for defaming the victim of that rape," referring to the legal victory by Trump accuser E. Jean Carroll. However, it is important to note that a jury actually determined Trump was liable for "sexual abuse," which has a distinct definition under New York law.
ABC has continued to support Stephanopoulos since the interview. The lawsuit against ABC recently saw the start date for a jury trial moved from April 2025 to June 2025 after both parties requested extensions. Despite the ongoing legal battle, the network's commitment to its host remains unwavering, demonstrating the complex dynamics of media accountability and legal proceedings.
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