MSNBC host blasts ABC and George Stephanopoulos' $15 million defamation settlement with Trump as Democrats AND Republicans turn on broadcaster

MSNBC's Symone Sanders-Townsend has blasted ABC News and George Stephanopoulos after the chief anchor and the broadcaster he works for agreed to settle a $15 million defamation lawsuit between the network and Donald Trump. 

But it was not just Democrat-leaning commentators who appeared unhappy with the  settlement - Republicans also appeared frustrated with the news organization believing the company should have been forced to pay more while hoping other broadcasters might also soon be brought to account.  

The settlement resolved a lawsuit filed by Trump over comments Stephanopoulos made during a broadcast of This Week in March, in which he inaccurately stated how Trump had been found liable for the rape of writer E. Jean Carroll.

During MSNBC's The Weekend Sunday, Sanders-Townsend argued that Stephanopoulos' remarks appeared to her to be 'factually accurate' when viewed in the broader context of the case. 

She suggested that the settlement raises questions about its potential implications for journalistic freedom adding how the payout towards Trump has a 'chilling effect'

Sanders-Townsend expressed concern that the settlement could set a troubling precedent for the media going forward. 

'I would just say, I mean, this feels like it has a real chilling effect. Like, I mean, shout out to the standards department standards is always making sure that we are keeping the bar high and substantive and accurate,' she began. 

'But what George Stephanopoulos said in that interview, it seems to hold up what the judge said and now his news organization and himself, George Stephanopoulos himself is paying $1 million of his own money to the lawyers and ABC are paying $15 million. It's insane,' Sanders-Townsend said.

Legal columnist, Harry Litman, formerly with the Los Angeles Times, was also not impressed with ABC's settling of the suit. 

'I got to think that the ABC boardroom was involved in this decision somehow,'  Litman said on MSNBC. 'And my big worry is it is somehow caught up in the fact he will be president soon.

'So how the boardroom affected the legal room here, I hope we will learn. But given the timing, he is on a roll and a roll, that is really unsettling in terms of public confidence in the criminal justice system and media confidence, and who is left after the media to tell the truth, that he will come after them, make their lives miserable, and it has been successful so far,' Litman added. 

Marc E. Elias, a Democratic election lawyer, accused ABC News of bending the knee and kissing the ring by settling.

'Knee bent. Ring kissed. Another legacy news outlet chooses obedience,' he wrote on X.

'First the LA Times, then the Washington Post, and now ABC News. They are all falling to Donald Trump. When George Stephanopoulos said Trump 'raped' E. Jean Carroll, he was using the word colloquially. Trump was found liable of sexually assaulting her,' USA Today opinion columnist Michael J. Stern wrote Bluesky.

Another reporter, Justin Baragona, formerly of the Daily Beast now with The Independent, wrote on Bluesky, 'This sets a worrisome precedent.' 

MSNBC legal analyst Barbara McQuade was also worried about the future ramifications of such a settlement. 

'Ordinarily, in defamation cases, you have to prove that the person was defamed, that there was actual malice and that the gist of the story was inaccurate. In addition, you have to show the person's reputation was harmed in this way. It seems that ABC had a very strong case here and yet they sort of caved anyway. And I think it sends a bad signal to other media enterprises. 

'It might have a chilling effect or self-censoring effect on the media, as they cover the Trump administration. Of course, a vigorous free press is essential to any administration, even more so in one where Donald Trump has vowed to go after his enemy,' McQuade said. 

On the other side of the aisle, Republicans took their turn at blasting ABC News in what they believe to be as part of a reporting bias against Trump.

'I hope there are more of these. ABC is not the only news outlet that has made these claims,' tweeted Joshua Walker.

'The propagandists are literally being forced to fund Trump’s museum. Amazing,' wrote Collin Rugg.

'Lol @ having to pay towards the presidential museum. That is even worse than just paying the money outright,' added another Republican gleeful at the outcome.

'The only way the legacy media and these people will change their ways is through being held accountable for their lies, a good start,' stated Klay Thompson.

'ABC should pay more than that. The lies and blatant propaganda they have pumped out as truth must never happen again! Canceling The View should be now to avoid more law suits,' X user Sully wrote.

The comments at issue arose during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), in which Stephanopoulos discussed Carroll's civil lawsuit against Trump. 

In that case, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, awarding her $5 million in damages. 

However, the jury did not conclude that Trump had committed rape as defined under New York law.

Stephanopoulos' phrasing - referring to Trump as being 'found liable for rape' -became the crux of the defamation suit.

 Trump argued the statements were made with 'malice' and disregard for the legal distinction that the jury's verdict did not meet the state's specific definition of rape.

During the interview, Stephanopoulos pressed Mace, saying: 'Judges and two separate juries have found him liable for rape and for defaming the victim of that rape.'

In response, Trump filed a lawsuit, asserting that such statements misrepresented the jury's findings and caused reputational harm.

At the time, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the trial, noted that the legal definition of rape in New York law is narrower than its common understanding. 

As part of the agreement, ABC issued a public apology for the inaccurate statements and agreed to fund $15 million for Trump's presidential library, describing the payment as a 'charitable contribution.' 

ABC also agreed to cover $1 million in legal fees for Trump's attorney, Alejandro Brito.

While the settlement spares Stephanopoulos and Trump from testifying in depositions.

Critics argue that such lawsuits could embolden public figures to sue media organizations for critical reporting, potentially stifling free expression.