A Florida judge has ruled against ABC's bid to dismiss a defamation case brought by former President Donald Trump.
Fox News reported that Judge Cecilia Altonaga of the United States District Court in Miami rejected ABC's motion, allowing the lawsuit to move forward.
The defamation lawsuit was instigated by comments by ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos in March during a tense exchange with Representative Nancy Mace, R-S.C., on "This Week."
Stephanopoulos incorrectly claimed that Trump was found "liable for rape" in a civil case. In reality, a federal jury determined Trump was liable for sexual abuse but not rape.
U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia Altonaga ruled that the defamation lawsuit deserves its day in court. "A jury may, upon viewing the segment, find there was sufficient context. But a reasonable jury could conclude Plaintiff was defamed and, as a result, dismissal is inappropriate," she stated.
Trump expressed his satisfaction with Truth Social regarding a favorable court decision in Florida, celebrating his victory against ABC and George Stephanopoulos. He described the case as significant and predicted that this outcome would compel the media to report more truthfully. Trump hailed the event as a significant victory for the nation, reiterating his MAGA2024 slogan.
The basis for the suit is Stephanopoulos's false claim that Trump was found liable for rape. This statement diverged from Judge Lewis Kaplan's findings in the case involving journalist E. Jean Carroll. Though not proving rape as defined by New York Penal Law, the jury did determine that Trump had committed sexual abuse.
Trump's recent legal victory coincides with his suggestion to move the scheduled presidential debate, initially slated to be broadcast on ABC, to Fox News.
This proposal came just days before President Biden withdrew from the race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. On Truth Social, Trump condemned ABC and suggested Fox News should replace it for the debate:
My debate with Crooked Joe Biden, the Worst President in the history of the United States, was slated to be broadcast on Fake News ABC, the home of George Slopadopolus, sometime in September. Now that Joe has, not surprisingly, has quit the race, I think the Debate, with whomever the Radical Left Democrats choose, should be held on FoxNews, rather than very biased ABC. Thank you!
Fox News Media's letter detailed a comprehensive debate proposal amid the changing political landscape:
Now that Vice President Kamala Harris is the presumptive Democratic nominee, FOX News Media is amending our proposal for a debate this cycle. Given that the race has changed, we’d like to request the opportunity to host a presidential debate between VP Harris and former President Trump.
The network emphasized the importance of conducting the debate in Pennsylvania on the proposed date. “We propose to host the debate in the state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, September 17, just as early voting is getting underway there and in other key battlegrounds. We are open to discussion on the exact date, format and location — with or without an audience.”
Additionally, Fox News advocated for Baier and MacCallum as the ideal moderators. “Again, we believe Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, the faces of our political coverage, are the best choices to moderate.”
The Florida judge's ruling allows Trump's defamation lawsuit against ABC and George Stephanopoulos to proceed. This ruling underscores the importance of accuracy in media statements, particularly in high-stakes political contexts. Trump's recent moves, including proposing Fox News as a debate host, demonstrate his ongoing influence and strategic maneuvering in the 2024 presidential race. The proposed September 17 debate could set a significant precedent for future elections.
