A federal judge in Florida has decided to fast-track a heated defamation case between President-elect Donald Trump and a major media network. The case centers around comments made by prominent anchor George Stephanopoulos, who repeatedly claimed that Trump had been found “liable for rape” during a civil case brought by E. Jean Carroll. Now, both Stephanopoulos and Trump will have to testify under oath as part of the legal proceedings, with depositions set for next week.
The judge’s decision came in a sharp, two-page order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. It directs both Stephanopoulos and Trump to answer questions in person, with each deposition capped at four hours. The move signals the judge’s impatience with delays, as she reminded both sides that there’s no time to waste now that Election Day is over.
This lawsuit stems from a segment aired in March, during which Stephanopoulos interviewed Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from Georgia. During the interview, he said more than 10 times that Trump had been found “liable for rape” in the Carroll case. The broadcast pointedly highlighted that Mace is a rape survivor, framing her support for Trump as contradictory.
However, Trump’s legal team says Stephanopoulos and the network got the facts wrong. According to the lawsuit, the jury in Carroll’s civil trial didn’t find Trump liable for rape under New York law, which has a very specific legal definition. Instead, they found him liable for sexual assault, a distinction Trump’s lawyers argue is critical. They claim Stephanopoulos must have known his statements were false because he has a long career in journalism and had previously acknowledged that Trump wasn’t found liable for rape.
What adds to the confusion is a statement from Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the Carroll trial in New York. In a post-verdict opinion, Kaplan noted that while New York law has a narrower definition of rape, the jury essentially found that Trump had committed what many people would commonly consider rape. The lawsuit points to this legal gray area as a key factor in the defamation claim.
The media network initially ran a headline saying, “Nancy Mace defends her support for Trump after he was found liable for rape.” After the lawsuit was filed, they changed it to, “Nancy Mace defends her support for Trump after he was found liable for sexual assault,” but they did not issue an apology or a retraction. Trump’s lawyers say this refusal to correct the record shows intent to harm his reputation.
The legal battle has been contentious, with both sides filing numerous motions. Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga, who is overseeing the case, has grown frustrated with the back-and-forth. Last month, she refused to extend any more deadlines, keeping the trial on track for April 7, 2025. It’s expected to last three to five days.
In her latest order, Judge Altonaga made it clear there would be no more delays. She also instructed the media network to hand over any remaining documents related to Trump’s claims of damages by December 15 so his legal team can prepare their case. Both parties have been warned to work out their remaining disagreements over evidence without further dragging things out.
For now, all eyes are on next week’s depositions. With both Stephanopoulos and Trump set to answer tough questions under oath, this case is bound to keep making headlines.
