Former President claims interview contained false statements about sexual assault case

Former President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against ABC, ABC News, and host George Stephanopoulos, accusing them of defamation following comments made during a recent interview. The dispute centres on Stephanopoulos’s statements regarding the legal outcomes of E. Jean Carroll’s sexual assault claims against Trump. In the interview, Stephanopoulos asserted that “judges and two separate juries have found [Trump] liable for rape,” a characterization Trump’s legal team contests as false and damaging.

The lawsuit focuses on the nuances of the legal findings against Trump. While a New York jury in May 2023 did find Trump liable for sexual abuse of Carroll, it stopped short of finding him liable for rape. Furthermore, the presiding judge later stated that the jury’s finding aligned with a common understanding of rape, considering the federal definition which encompasses any non-consensual penetration, regardless of the means.

Trump’s legal challenge hinges on proving “actual malice” or “reckless disregard for the truth” on Stephanopoulos’s part—a high standard for defamation cases involving public figures. The lawsuit seeks to establish that the statements made during the interview were knowingly false or issued with a significant lack of concern for their veracity, thereby harming Trump’s reputation.

In addition to the sexual abuse verdict, Trump was found liable in two separate defamation suits filed by Carroll, resulting from his denials of her allegations. These verdicts led to a combined award of $88.3 million in Carroll’s favour, which Trump continues to appeal while maintaining his innocence.

ABC News has declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages. The case underscores the complexities of defamation law, especially involving public figures, and highlights the continuing legal battles surrounding Trump’s contentious statements and the allegations against him.