Megyn Kelly Just Dropped Bombshell On Trump 1 Month Before Inauguration
Megyn Kelly recently revealed exclusive details about ABC News' confidential $15 million settlement with President-elect Donald Trump's legal team. Trump had filed a defamation lawsuit against the network and anchor George Stephanopoulos following comments made on This Week. Despite the agreement, ABC News has not reported on the settlement, and Stephanopoulos failed to address it during his latest broadcast.
Kelly’s producer directly interviewed Alejandro Brito, Trump’s attorney, to uncover the reasoning behind ABC’s decision to settle. Brito explained, “The nature of the claims that were brought and the fact that they were verifiable as factually untrue from George Stephanopoulos.”
According to Brito, Trump’s legal team presented specific video evidence that contradicted Stephanopoulos’ statements regarding Trump’s civil case with E. Jean Carroll. He pointed to a notable instance where Stephanopoulos acknowledged in an interview with Carroll that Trump had not been found guilty of rape after the trial.
“This was not a situation where there was simply a misunderstanding," Brito said. "George Stephanopoulos interviewed E. Jean Carroll after the trial on his show, and we had video of his questions to Carroll, and when he asked her how she felt after Stephanopoulos said Trump was not liable for rape, juxtapose that with his questioning of Mace.” Trump’s legal team believed this inconsistency would have been highly damaging for ABC if presented before a jury.
WATCH:
Kelly’s producer pressed Brito on whether the discovery phase of the case—where documents and evidence are exchanged—had influenced ABC’s decision to settle. Brito agreed that it likely played a role.
He suggested the settlement may have been prompted by concerns over sensitive material potentially being uncovered during discovery. Trump’s lawyers had prepared to depose George Stephanopoulos and ABC representatives, raising the possibility of unwanted disclosures.
Brito revealed that document exchanges at the time of settlement had been minimal, with ABC providing only a single sheet of paper. ABC opted for a settlement before further data could be handed over, though Trump’s legal team was still awaiting responses to their discovery requests.
Kelly speculated that ABC’s reluctance to proceed stemmed from fears of what Trump’s lawyers might uncover. Brito concurred, suggesting the network sought to avoid additional negative publicity but stopped short of providing details. While the $15 million settlement marked a significant development, ABC News has remained silent on the matter. During the conclusion of This Week on Sunday, Stephanopoulos refrained from addressing the lawsuit or its outcome.
An editor’s note issued by ABC read, “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024.”
The controversy stemmed from Stephanopoulos repeatedly asserting during the March interview with Rep. Mace—a survivor of sexual assault—that Trump had been convicted of rape. Mace accused him of attempting to shame her for her political stance.