Trump, Stephanopoulos to sit for depositions next week in defamation case

President-elect Trump and anchor George Stephanopoulos will sit for depositions next week in Trump’s defamation case against ABC News, a judge ruled Friday. 

Trump sued the network and the anchor in March after Stephanopoulos repeatedly said on air that a jury found Trump “liable for rape” in a lawsuit brought by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. 

The jury had found Trump liable for sexual abuse under New York law, but not rape. 

Following a discovery hearing on Friday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid ordered both Trump and Stephanopoulos to sit for depositions next week that could last up to four hours each. Trump’s deposition will take place in person in Florida, while Stephanopoulos’ deposition may take place remotely, the judge said.

Trump’s defamation case revolves around Stephanopoulos’s March 10 interview of Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) on “This Week.” While questioning the congresswoman about her endorsement of Trump, Stephanopoulos stated 10 times that the jury had found Trump liable for rape. 

When Trump previously accused Carroll of defamation for continuing to described it as rape, a federal judge rejected Trump’s claim, saying the characterization was still substantially true because New York’s legal distinction between rape and sexual abuse “is minimal.” 

Trump's lawsuit against ABC is now moving closer to trial after the network's dismissal attempt was denied in July when a judge rejected several defenses ABC mounted, including that it is protected by a fair reporting privilege. 

The Hill has reached out to spokespeople for Trump and ABC for comment.

The case is one of several lawsuits the president-elect has brought against media organizations.

He is suing CBS News for $10 billion over claims it edited a “60 Minutes” interview during the campaign with Vice President Harris to cast her in a positive light. 

Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize board, which concerns a statement it issued defending its awards for stories detailing Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, also remains pending.