Former President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against ABC News and an anchor over statements made during a recent interview. The lawsuit stems from an interview in which the anchor pressed Republican Rep. Nancy Mace about her support for Trump following a civil case in which he was found liable for sexual abuse.
In the interview, the anchor repeatedly asserted that Trump had 'raped' the victim in the case, prompting Mace to defend her endorsement of the former president. Mace clarified that the case was a civil matter, not a criminal one, and expressed frustration at being questioned about her political choices as a rape survivor.
While a jury did find Trump liable for battery in the case, it did not specifically find that he had raped the victim. However, a judge later stated that the claim of rape was 'substantially true' based on the evidence presented.
Trump's lawsuit, filed in federal court in Florida, alleges that the anchor's statements were false, intentional, and malicious. This is not the first time Trump has taken legal action against the media, as he has a history of filing lawsuits that have been deemed meritless.
ABC News has not yet provided a comment on the lawsuit. Trump's legal battles with the media continue, with a recent case against The New York Times resulting in a substantial payment for attorney fees.