PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 16: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort on December 16, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. In a news conference that went over an hour, Trump announced that SoftBank will invest over $100 billion in projects in the United States including 100,000 artificial intelligence related jobs and then took questions on Syria, Israel, Ukraine, the economy, cabinet picks, and many other topics. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
ABC News’ parent company, Disney, quickly settled Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit for $15 million last week, citing concerns over damaging press protections and avoiding a potential Supreme Court challenge to landmark First Amendment rulings.
A July ruling by Judge Cecilia Altonaga rejecting Disney’s motion to dismiss Trump’s lawsuit raised concerns about the network’s ability to win the case. The judge noted that a reasonable jury could find anchor George Stephanopoulos’ repeated claim that Trump was found liable for rape defamatory.
Disney executives feared a Florida jury might favor Trump, given the trial’s location and Trump’s political influence, leading to higher damages.
Disney agreed to pay $15 million, cover Trump’s legal fees, and issue a statement expressing regret over the error.
Legal experts and media pundits warn the settlement could embolden public figures to target press freedoms, with fears that future cases might challenge New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, a critical First Amendment precedent.
Critics, including media and Democratic lawyers, called Disney’s decision a capitulation, raising concerns about the precedent it sets for journalistic independence and legal protections for the press.
Following his legal victory, Trump has sued The Des Moines Register over an inaccurate pre-election poll, further stoking concerns about the chilling effect on media organizations.
In a recent summit held in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi announced that Arab…
NEW YORK — Wall Street experienced a significant downturn on Tuesday as escalating trade tensions…
Starting Tuesday, Uber will launch a new phase of its ride-hailing service in Austin, Texas,…
In Toronto, Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, sharply criticized the recent tariffs imposed by U.S.…
A conglomerate headquartered in Hong Kong has decided to divest its controlling interest in a…
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Two astronauts from NASA, who have been in space for nine…