Jake Tapper Panics After ABC’s Massive Settlement With Trump: ‘Wildly Ridiculous’
SUMMARY
CNN’s Jake Tapper lashed out over ABC News’ $16 million settlement with President-elect Donald Trump following a defamation lawsuit. The case stemmed from anchor George Stephanopoulos falsely claiming Trump was found liable for “rape” during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace. ABC agreed to pay $15 million to a future Trump presidential foundation and museum, plus $1 million in legal fees, and issue a formal apology. Tapper called the outcome “wildly ridiculous,” expressing concern about Trump’s ongoing legal actions against media outlets, including plans to sue CBS News for alleged deceptive editing involving Vice President Kamala Harris. The settlement followed the controversial E. Jean Carroll civil sexual assault case, made possible by New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which expanded the statute of limitations. Though Carroll lacked corroborating evidence or witnesses, a jury awarded her $83.3 million for battery and defamation, prompting Trump’s legal pushback against major networks.
