ABC News Asks Judge for More Time to Respond to Trump Lawsuit
Trump sued the community over allegedly defamatory statements made by host George Stephanopoulos on his program.
American Broadcasting Corporations Inc. (ABC) and ABC Information have sought a 30-day delay to answer a defamation lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump towards the community and its host George Stephanopoulos.
In his lawsuit, President Trump argues that Mr. Stephanopoulos made a dozen allegedly defamatory remarks on air on March 10 when the host repeatedly acknowledged {that a} jury had discovered the previous president responsible for the rape of author E. Jean Carroll.
In response to a courtroom submitting, ABC, which was served on March 19, reached out the subsequent day to President Trump’s attorneys, who consented to the broadcaster accepting service on behalf of Mr. Stephanopoulos, who had not been served.
The broadcaster had till April 9 to file a response movement, whereas Mr. Stephanopoulos had till Might 20.
ABC has requested a uniform response date of Might 10.
“The Grievance on this case raises two claims regarding twelve allegedly defamatory statements that relate to Defendants’ reporting on findings within the Carroll Litigation. The requested extension will permit undersigned counsel adequate time to conduct an investigation of Plaintiff’s claims, evaluate the document within the Carroll Litigation, and formulate consolidated and full responses to the Grievance,” the submitting learn.
On the coronary heart of the lawsuit are remarks made by the host of “This Week With George Stephanopoulos” on March 10 throughout an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.).
The criticism alleges that Mr. Stephanopoulos repeatedly acknowledged {that a} jury had discovered President Trump responsible for the rape of author E. Jean Carroll, regardless of being “conscious of the reality.”
Through the heated interview, Ms. Mace, who was the sufferer of a rape at 16, accused the host of “shaming” her. Mr. Stephanopoulos, on the again foot, repeatedly claimed that President Trump had been “discovered responsible for rape,” in numerous permutations.
“Judges in two separate juries have discovered him responsible for rape and for defaming a sufferer of that rape,” was one such declare.
“Donald Trump has been discovered responsible for rape by a jury,” he mentioned in one other.
“I’m asking you a query about why you endorsed somebody who’s been discovered responsible for rape,” Mr. Stephanopoulos pressed.
Mr. Stephanopoulos was conscious that the jury didn’t discover the previous president responsible for rape, “but nonetheless falsely acknowledged in any other case,” the previous president’s criticism argued.
“These statements had been and stay false, and had been made by Defendant Stephanopoulos with precise malice or with a reckless disregard for the reality provided that Defendant Stephanopoulos is aware of that these statements are obviously and demonstrably false,” the criticism learn.
The lawsuit contends that these allegedly defamatory statements had been made by the host “throughout the scope and course of his employment“ and ”with intent to hurt.” The criticism additionally took goal on the broadcaster for allegedly carrying and approving the allegedly defamatory content material to be aired.
Within the criticism, two causes had been introduced to assist the declare that the statements had been made “with intent to hurt.”
The primary cause was that the ABC host allegedly “was and is conscious of the reality” in regards to the determinations made by the topic juries.
The second cause outlined within the criticism alleges that Mr. Stephanopoulos’s statements had been “ready upfront and had been written on notes” that he was studying from whereas making these defamatory statements.
ABC beforehand declined to remark when contacted by The Epoch Instances.
Ms. Carroll alleged that the incident befell at Bergdorf Goodman in Manhattan greater than twenty years in the past. She alleged that President Trump’s actions constituted sexual offenses, together with rape.
President Trump denied the allegations, and whereas the jury discovered him not responsible for rape, it did discover him responsible for sexual assault. This verdict is presently underneath attraction.