In a federal court filing lodged in Miami, former President Donald Trump has initiated legal action against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos, demanding unspecified damages for alleged defamation. The lawsuit stems from Stephanopoulos’ line of questioning directed at Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) during a widely-publicized interview on the network’s “This Week” program on March 10.
The interview drew widespread attention as Mace, herself a survivor of sexual assault, accused Stephanopoulos of employing tactics intended to “shame” her for her endorsement of Trump, despite recent legal developments in lawsuits brought by E. Jean Carroll. These suits saw Trump held ‘liable for sexual abuse’ under New York law, though he was not found guilty of rape—a fact that Stephanopoulos repeatedly emphasized during the interview.
Trump has indeed pursued legal action against numerous media outlets in the past, including CNN, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. Despite his persistent efforts, these lawsuits have generally been unsuccessful. Additionally, President Trump sought to countersue Carroll after she persisted in accusing him of rape on cable news following the jury’s verdict. However, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, appointed by former President Clinton, dismissed Trump’s counterclaims.