On Wednesday, a federal judge in New York rejected ABC News and George Stephanopoulos’s efforts to avoid a defamation lawsuit brought by former President Donald Trump, who, in a lawsuit, is alleging that the former Bill Clinton operative defamed him during a March interview, stating that the ex-president was “liable for rape” in a lawsuit filed by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll.
U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga, in a detailed ruling, rejected the motion to dismiss, stating that there were sufficient grounds for the case to proceed. “The Court has carefully considered the record, the parties’ written submissions, and applicable law. For the following reasons, the Motion is denied,” Altonaga, an appointee of former Republican President George W. Bush, wrote.
The decision now sets the stage for Trump to escalate his battle against the network and Stephanopoulos for the next phase. The dispute revolves around a contentious segment in which Stephanopoulos, during a conversation with a lawmaker Nancy Mace (R-SC.), claimed that Trump was implicated in a rape. “A reasonable jury could interpret Stephanopoulos’s statements as defamatory,” wrote Altonaga. “Stephanopoulos’s exchange with Mace lasted about ten minutes, during which Stephanopoulos stated ten times that a jury — or juries — had found Plaintiff liable for rape.”
“New York has opted to separate the crime of rape. Stephanopoulos’s statements dealt not with the public’s usage of that term, but the jury’s consideration of it during a formal legal proceeding,” the ruling stated.
A federal jury in Manhattan found last year that former President Trump sexually abused Carroll, holding him liable for battery. However, the jury did not support Carroll’s claim that Trump raped her. “A big win today in the high Florida court against ABC fake news, and Liddle’ George Slopadopolus,” Trump wrote Wednesday morning on Truth Social. “A powerful case! Before you know it, the fake news media will be forced by the courts to start telling the truth. This is a great day for our country. MAGA 2024!”
During the interview, Mace, a North Carolina Republican, ripped Stephanopoulos for even bringing up the subject of rape. “It was not a criminal court,” Mace told Stephanopoulos. “This was a civil court. And by the way, she [E. Jean Carroll] joked about the judgment and what she was going to do with all that money and I find that offensive.” Mace continued, “But as a rape victim who’s been shamed for years now because of her rape, you’re trying to shame me again by asking me this political question.”
WATCH:
Rep. Nancy Mace eviscerates ABC’s George Stephanopoulos after he asks, “As a rape victim… how can you endorse Trump?”
“You’re asking me a question about my political choices, trying to shame me as a rape victim. And I find it disgusting,” said Mace.pic.twitter.com/rvCXJ4Z6rp
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 10, 2024
