Court denies ABC’s bid to dismiss Trump’s defamation lawsuit

Former President Donald Trump celebrated a significant legal victory Wednesday, July 24, when a Florida judge refused to dismiss his defamation lawsuit against ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos. The lawsuit originated from an interview with GOP Rep. Nancy Mace, during which Stephanopoulos repeatedly claimed Trump was liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll.

In May 2023, however, a court found that Trump was not liable for rape but he was liable for sexual assault and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages. She had accused Trump of raping her in a New York City department store in the 1990s.