SiriusXM podcaster Megyn Kelly revealed exclusive details about ABC News’ quiet $15 million settlement with President-elect Donald Trump’s legal team. The agreement came as a result of Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the network and anchor George Stephanopoulos following comments made on This Week. ABC News has not publicly reported on the settlement, and Stephanopoulos did not address it during his latest broadcast.
Kelly’s producer spoke directly with Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito, to understand why ABC chose to settle. Brito explained, “The long and short of it is the nature of the claims that were brought and the fact that they were verifiable as factually untrue from George Stephanopoulos.” According to Brito, Trump’s legal team had compiled separate video clips showing Stephanopoulos contradicting his statements about Trump’s civil trial involving E. Jean Carroll. Brito pointed to a specific moment in an interview Stephanopoulos conducted with Carroll after the trial, where Stephanopoulos admitted that Trump had not been found liable for rape.
“This was not a situation where there was simply a misunderstanding. George Stephanopoulos interviewed E. Jean Carroll after the trial on his show, and we had video of his questions to Carroll, and when he asked her how she felt after Stephanopoulos said Trump was not liable for rape, juxtapose that with his questioning of [Rep. Nancy] Mace [R-S.C.],” said Brito. Mace explained to Stephanopoulos that she was a rape survivor in a heated exchange.
Kelly’s producer inquired further about whether discovery—the legal process of exchanging documents and evidence—was a factor in the settlement. Brito indicated that it could have been a key influence. “The possibility of something coming out in discovery may have led to the settlement,” he explained. Trump’s legal team had been preparing to depose both ABC representatives and Stephanopoulos. According to Brito, this deposition process could have exposed information ABC did not want to be made public.
At the time of settlement, Brito revealed that document exchange had been minimal. “ABC had only produced one piece of paper,” he noted.Trump’s team was still waiting for responses to discovery requests, but ABC’s decision to settle occurred before any significant material was provided.
Kelly speculated that ABC’s hesitation to move forward might have been due to concerns over what Trump’s attorneys could potentially uncover. Brito did not provide specific details but agreed that the network likely wanted to avoid further exposure. While the $15 million settlement represents a significant development, ABC News has remained notably silent on the matter. On Sunday, Stephanopoulos concluded his broadcast of This Week without mentioning either the lawsuit or its resolution.
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