Excessive-profile Democratic lawyer Marc Elias blasted ABC News on Saturday night after the community settled a defamation lawsuit that was filed by means of President-decide on Donald Trump.
Elias posted on social media he seen the agreement as a sign that yet some other media outlet was waving the white flag relating to Trump.
The community apologized to Trump over comments network anchor George Stephanopoulos made earlier this yr all over a Sunday morning interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC). Stephanopoulos mentioned numerous times Trump had been adjudicated of rape whereas referring to the E. Jean Carroll civil sexual abuse lawsuit – which she won.
Trump sued for defamation, arguing the anchor made “demonstrably false” remarks with “actual malice or with a reckless disregard for the reality.”
Saturday afternoon, ABC Information issued the next apology to Trump and agreed to pay him $15 million to settle the go well with:
ABC Information and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made right through an interview by using George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024.
A community spokesperson told Mediaite, “We are pleased that the parties have reached an settlement to push aside the lawsuit on the phrases within the court docket filing.”
A lot of newspapers have taken flak in recent months and weeks over a perception they had been bowing to Trump. MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski also faced backlash once they traveled to Florida to satisfy Trump after he gained the election final month.
Elias went nuclear on ABC in a series of posts on X (previously Twitter) wherein he labeled the ABC contract as a “knee bent” to Trump.”
“Knee bent. Ring kissed. Every other legacy news outlet chooses obedience,” Elias wrote.
Knee bent. Ring kissed. Every other legacy news outlet chooses obedience.
A reminder, Democracy Docket is fiercely independent and unapologetically professional-democracy. It will now not go into reverse. It’ll now not obey. Signal-as much as support. https://t.co/0PSBfyQbMf… https://t.co/6vOCefpS3y
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) December 14, 2024
In some other post, Elias mentioned, “I bet Bezos, Zuckerberg and the rest are bummed that they’re going to now want to healthy the $15m payment to Trump with a purpose to maintain up with Disney.”
I bet Bezos, Zuckerberg and the remainder are bummed that they’re going to now want to match the $15m cost to Trump with the intention to preserve up with Disney.
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) December 14, 2024
In a ultimate submit on the subject, the attorney commented, “Does any individual have a list of legacy media that have not (yet) apologized to, praised and/or paid Trump because Election Day?”
Does someone have a listing of legacy media which have not (but) apologized to, praised and/or paid Trump because Election Day?
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) December 14, 2024
Elias additionally announced his intention to leave X via the end of the month and to enroll in Bluesky.
The submit ‘Ring Kissed’: Dem Lawyer Tears Into ‘Obedience’ of ABC Information Settling Trump Defamation Suit With ‘Knee Bent’ first appeared on Mediaite.