President-elect Trump and anchor George Stephanopoulos will sit for depositions subsequent week in Trump’s defamation case in opposition to ABC Information, a choose dominated Friday.
Trump sued the community and the anchor in March after Stephanopoulos repeatedly stated on air {that a} jury discovered Trump “liable for rape” in a lawsuit introduced by recommendation columnist E. Jean Carroll.
The jury had discovered Trump accountable for sexual abuse beneath New York legislation, however not rape.
Following a discovery listening to on Friday, U.S. Justice of the Peace Decide Lisette Reid ordered each Trump and Stephanopoulos to take a seat for depositions subsequent week that might last as long as 4 hours every. Trump’s deposition will happen in individual in Florida, whereas Stephanopoulos’ deposition might happen remotely, the choose stated.
Trump’s defamation case revolves round Stephanopoulos’s March 10 interview of Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) on “This Week.” Whereas questioning the congresswoman about her endorsement of Trump, Stephanopoulos acknowledged 10 instances that the jury had discovered Trump accountable for rape.
When Trump beforehand accused Carroll of defamation for persevering with to described it as rape, a federal choose rejected Trump’s declare, saying the characterization was nonetheless considerably true as a result of New York’s authorized distinction between rape and sexual abuse “is minimal.”
Trump’s lawsuit in opposition to ABC is now shifting nearer to trial after the community’s dismissal try was denied in July when a choose rejected a number of defenses ABC mounted, together with that it’s protected by a good reporting privilege.
The Hill has reached out to spokespeople for Trump and ABC for remark.
The case is one in all a number of defamation lawsuits the president-elect has introduced in opposition to media organizations.
He’s suing CBS Information for $10 billion over claims it edited a “60 Minutes” interview through the marketing campaign with Vice President Harris to solid her in a optimistic mild.
Trump’s defamation lawsuit in opposition to the Pulitzer Prize board, which issues a press release it issued defending its awards for tales detailing Russian interference within the 2016 presidential election, additionally stays pending.
