Washington, Dec 15 (V7N) — Former US President Donald Trump has reached a settlement in his defamation lawsuit against ABC News, receiving $15 million in damages.

The agreement, announced on Saturday, comes after months of legal battles stemming from statements made by ABC star host George Stephanopoulos. On March 10, Stephanopoulos erroneously claimed in an interview with a congressman that Trump had been convicted of rape, despite no such conviction existing. The remarks followed a high-profile sexual harassment lawsuit against Trump last year.

As part of the settlement, ABC News has agreed to pay Trump's legal fees and issue a public statement expressing regret for the error. The $15 million in damages will be donated to the Presidential Foundation and Museum.

Trump, now serving as the newly elected US president, has decided to drop the lawsuit in light of the settlement. This case highlights the contentious relationship between Trump and the media, as well as the legal risks of misinformation in public discourse.

ABC News has yet to release its official statement of regret, but the settlement marks the end of a high-stakes legal dispute between the media network and the president.

END/RH/AJ