ABC Faces Anger After $15M Trump Settlement: 'Democracy Dies'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Dec 15, 2024 at 5:39 AM EST Updated Dec 15, 2024 at 11:32 AM EST


ABC News is facing backlash from both Democrats and Republicans following its $15-million settlement with Donald Trump. In a settlement announced on Saturday, ABC News agreed to pay $15 million toward Donald Trump's presidential library and issue a public apology in order to settle a defamation lawsuit over inaccurate statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos during a broadcast earlier this year.

The settlement describes the funding as a "charitable contribution" from the broadcaster. Additionally, the network will pay $1 million in legal fees to Trump's attorneys. Trump filed the defamation suit after Stephanopoulos claimed during a March 10 segment of ABC News' This Week while interviewing Representative Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, that Trump had been "found liable for rape" in connection to writer E. Jean Carroll's lawsuits.

Neither verdict involved a finding of rape as defined under New York law. Following the settlement, which came just days after U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid ordered the president-elect and Stephanopoulos to submit to four-hour depositions, ABC News is facing backlash from both sides of the aisle.

"People are not going to forget what ABC did," the Republicans Against Trump X, formerly Twitter, account said. Conservative political scientist Norman Jay Ornstein added: "Add ABC to the basket of cowards in our media." Democratic attorney Marc Elias wrote: "Knee bent. Ring kissed. Another legacy news outlet chooses obedience." Reporter Oliver Willis also chimed in, writing on Threads: "This is actually how democracy dies."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-abc-news-lawsuit-settlement-reaction-2000995

[spooky3]

1. The judge specifically said it was rape, as the term is typically used,

Though NY law had a different definition.

It’s outrageous that ABC didn’t support Stephanopoulos.

I’ll add a link to the WaPo article reporting the judge’s comment..

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/07/19/trump-carroll-judge-rape/

“The finding that Ms. Carroll failed to prove that she was ‘raped’ within the meaning of the New York Penal Law does not mean that she failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape,’ ” Kaplan wrote.

He added: “Indeed, as the evidence at trial recounted below makes clear, the jury found that Mr. Trump in fact did exactly that.”

[SunSeeker]

4. Exactly. Judge Kaplan said the jury found Trump raped Carroll.

Stephanopoulos just repeated what Judge Kaplan said!

[SunSeeker]

2. This settlement sets a terrible precedent.

This will further chill critical reporting of Trump. Trump's defamation/libel suits are basically SLAPP suits. They are about intimidation, to prevent people from saying critical things about Trump, a public figure. And now he will be filing a shit ton more of them, thanks to ABC caving.

ABC had the money to fight Trump and take it to trial. Most people, including many journalists, don't have that kind of money. How can we expect these smaller folks to be braver than ABC? This is horrible for our country.

[louis-t]

3. I am so angry about this.

They're going to apologize for hurting his little feelings? And give him $15 million? Now he will sue anyone who has ever hurt his feelings and win. Sickening.

Oh, and I will never watch ABC again. Never.

[JoseBalow]

5. I hate to give drumpf anything resembling a "win"

Because fuck that guy.

[BadgerMom]

6. Done with ABC. Done with Disney.

[PortTack]

16. As we all,should be!

[kimbutgar]

7. I hope they make that payment in an account that can't be touched until after HE LEAVES OFFICE

So he can’t steal the money immediately!

[Roy Rolling]

8. Commercial Media

They created the MAGA problem by giving free coverage to morons. They’re the problem, not the solution.

[Diraven]

9. Disney is afraid of backlash

If Trump tells his his DOJ to go after Disney for being too woke or something they stand to lose a lot more than $15 million. The fear of tyranny has started.

[mn9driver]

10. Corporate America and its billionaires only care about shareholder value.

Those guardrails are gone.

[phxjurist]

11. I haven't watched ABC news for a long time. Now I know why. They just bent the knee to Trump.

[PSPS]

12. One by one, they're all surrendering in advance.

[Historic NY]

13. Morons

[tosh]

14. "Do not obey in advance."

It is rule #1 and I will honor this rule.

If any corporate media breaks this rule RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE then I will abandon that entity.

[taxi]

15. We need to remember this for every election cycle. Deprive them of the horse race coverage.

Using very little of our resources on main stream media creates a situation where both the republicans and their compliant mouthpieces are hard pressed to find a message that sticks. We don't have to provide an opposing viewpoint, nor do we need to comment on their platforms on any subject.
Let's face it - the democratic base will vote because we're Democrats, while the rest of the country watches television and listens to radio looking for reasons NOT to vote for a Democrat. Playing their game is counterproductive and costly for us, and worse yet, it is entertainment for them.

[PortTack]

17. Nailed it!

[RandiFan1290]

18. Just like twitter

Most will go back to loyally consuming their right wing propaganda.

[Ray Bruns]

19. I'm curious if they even negotiated a lower sum or did they just drop their pants and bend over?

[RVN VET71]

25. They just folded, as cowards do

I've never liked ABC and am only a little surprised at this b.s... This was the kind of lawsuit that you expect to result in dismissal or, at worst, a $1.00 finding. But ABC wanted to let Donnie Fatso know, in a way that could not be mistaken by anyone, that they were ready to grease up and bend over. I'd love to know what ABC's lawyers are saying about this -- in private, of course.

Is anyone keeping count here? I got the L.A. Times, the Washington Post, and Facebook eagerly on their knees before Fat Donnie. And NBC seems ready to deep six MSNBC which is apparently also connected to Comcast (which has already signaled its desire to get with the fascists and drop its MSNBC connection under the guise of "streamlining" its services to "promote efficiencies".) I know there are others. Our journalistic industry is being run, more and more, by a wimpy spined gaggle of soulless money-grubbing fascists and fascist satellites.

[IrishBubbaLiberal]

20. I NEVER watch ABC anyway, What for? It's mainly crap and endless commercials

All of the legacy media in US is not worth watching anymore.

Not for me.

It’s all endless commercials.

In a typical hour long program there are about 15 to 20 minutes of damn commercials.
Why bother! Endless commercials, it’s all crap to watch

[bmichaelh]

21. More lawsuits to follow

In his press conference, he threatened to sue more media companies.

Will they take the Disney/ABC route and bribe him with a donation.

Or will they fight and depose him?
He will probably say he is too busy for depositions when he is president.

[IcyPeas]

22. Correct me if I'm wrong...

Hasn't trump defamed and lied about people too?

Why don't people sue him?

[Sucha NastyWoman]

23. TV news is likely to be nearly useless over the next four years

[Marthe48]

24. That's going to buy a lot of coloring books

n/t

[Karasu]

26. The media falling in line so quickly and pathetically is textbook fascism shit.

[Evolve Dammit]

28. yes indeed. Welcome

[Hassler]

27. I wonder how much the Des Moines Register will pay

To make their lawsuit go away?

[Bengus81]

29. Hopefully not one DAMN cent. Trump has no case,it's just his newest shtick

to try and collect millions of $$$ without even getting near a courtroom.