Trump And Defamation

Pressure Tactics

It was startling, but not surprising, to hear that ABC has to pay Trump a huge settlement because its anchor, George Stephanopolous, said on-air that Trump is a rapist, when legally, he is not. The court found Trump to be guilty of sexual abuse, not rape. I recall that verdict well, because I went to that trial and live-drew it. That distinction seems dubious no matter how you look at it, but the jury just couldn’t bring themselves to call what he did to E Jean Carroll rape.

Today there is a front page story in the NY times about how Trump and his people are constantly threating lawsuits over the coverage of his nominees. Some of these threats are coming in letters, some on-air. Apparently, it is a high bar to win a defamation lawsuit. In the Times story, it is reported that even before the settlement with NBC was reached, a prominent media lawyer said she expected that the trend “is only going to increase,” given the political environment.”

Particularly as it pertains to the nominee for Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth. He was accused of a sexual assault in 2017, and settled with the accuser, who signed an NDA at the time.

In an article in the NY Times moments ago, it is reported that Hegseth told Lindsey Graham that the nominee is releasing the woman to speak freely. However, if she does, and if she…