Even after his recent election victory, former President Trump maintains two significant lawsuits against major news networks ABC and CBS. The first lawsuit targets ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos for defamation regarding on-air statements made earlier this year. The second, a $10 billion suit against CBS News, alleges "deceptive conduct" and election interference related to an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. Both cases are active, with pre-trial discovery hearings scheduled in the ABC case and a potential impact on a large media merger looming in the CBS suit.
Incoming White House communications director Steven Cheung emphasized Trump's commitment to holding media outlets accountable for what he considers false and dishonest reporting. He stated to Fox News Digital that the lawsuits aim to address reporting that disrupts elections for partisan gain.
The lawsuit against ABC News originates from comments made by Stephanopoulos in March, where he repeatedly asserted that Trump was found "liable for rape" in a civil suit. This statement was made during a discussion with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) on "This Week." While a jury found Trump liable for "sexual abuse," a legally distinct term under New York law, Stephanopoulos used the term "rape" ten times. Although Judge Lewis Kaplan later clarified the common understanding of "rape" might differ from the legal definition, the lawsuit proceeds. The trial start date has been postponed to June 2025. Recent court proceedings include a protective order to safeguard confidential information during the discovery process.
The $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News centers on a "60 Minutes" interview with Vice President Harris. Trump's legal team argues that CBS edited Harris's response to a question about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a way that constituted "deceptive conduct" and election interference. While CBS claims the edits were for time constraints, Trump's attorneys contend they were intended to favor the Democratic Party in the 2024 election. CBS has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, citing First Amendment protections of editorial decisions.
Speculation surrounds the potential impact of this lawsuit on an $8 billion merger between CBS's parent company, Paramount Global, and Skydance Media. The deal requires approval from incoming Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr. Some suggest Carr might demand the release of an unedited transcript of the Harris interview or proof of CBS's nonpartisanship as conditions for approval.
