The recent settlement of a defamation lawsuit by ABC with Donald Trump has sparked a wave of surprise and consternation among media circles.
The lawsuit was instigated by comments made by ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos, who alleged that the then President-elect had committed rape during his sexual assault on writer E. Jean Carroll. The settlement, announced late Saturday, involves a $15 million donation by the network to a Presidential foundation and museum, a practice followed by past Presidents of the United States. The network also issued an apology and agreed to cover $1 million of Trump's legal fees.
As reported by Raw Story, the news was met with disbelief by MSNBC's Symone Sanders Townsend, who questioned the network's decision to settle. She sought the insights of legal analyst Joyce Vance, a former U.S. Attorney with experience in defamation lawsuits. Vance acknowledged the unexpected nature of the settlement, stating, "I think everybody was surprised by this. And precisely because the depositions had not taken place yet. It seemed like a really early point in this case for it to be settled."
Vance further explained the complexities of defamation cases, stating, "In order to prevail, Trump would have to prove that ABC was reckless when it came to the truth or falsity of the statements they made on air." She suggested that this would have been a challenging task for Trump, given the nature of the statements made and the outcome of the E. Jean Carroll defamation case against him.
In the Carroll case, the jury found that Trump had sexually assaulted Carroll, not raped her. Vance pointed out that the judge's comments, which came significantly after the ABC show aired, could have been powerful evidence for ABC. "The judge's comment, by the way, which is made after the show airs on ABC come significantly after. I think it is still powerful evidence by ABC which they could have used," she said.
The settlement has raised questions about the role of media and the power of defamation lawsuits in shaping public discourse. It also underscores the importance of accuracy and responsibility in reporting, particularly when dealing with high-profile figures and sensitive issues. The case serves as a reminder of the potential repercussions of reckless reporting, and the need for media outlets to uphold the highest standards of journalistic integrity.
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