Donald Trump and George Stephanopoulos of ABC News are set to provide depositions in a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump against both the journalist and the network. This lawsuit centers on statements made by Stephanopoulos during a March interview in which he claimed Trump had been “found liable for rape,” a statement that Trump’s legal representatives argue was false and damaging, Fox News reported.
“You’ve endorsed Donald Trump for president. Judges and two separate juries have found him liable for rape and for defaming the victim of that rape,” Stephanopoulos said, said at the time in reference to the legal victory by Trump accuser E. Jean Carroll.
Trump’s team asserts that the false claim was reiterated multiple times throughout the interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, further compounding its potential impact, per the outlet.
In a recent court ruling, U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette M. Reid determined that Trump, now that the presidential campaign is behind him, should proceed with an in-person deposition next week, adding Trump had a “fairly good argument.”
“He’s now in a completely different posture, and he should be able to make himself available,” she said, the outlet reported.
However, Trump’s lawyers highlighted logistical concerns, particularly regarding security, as the Secret Service is tasked with his protection and could complicate the scheduling process.
“I’m going to do everything in my power to make the president available,” Trump’s attorney, lawyer, Alejandro Brito said, per Fox News. “But there are limitations of my ability to do so. I have to factor the Secret Service into the equation.”
Conversely, Stephanopoulos has been granted permission to conduct his deposition remotely, offering some flexibility to the legal proceedings. As the lawsuit advances, ABC News continues to stand by Stephanopoulos amid these allegations. This case is poised for trial, with jury proceedings pushed from April to June 2025, following delays requested by both parties, according to the outlet.
