Trump's defamation suit against ABC News, George Stephanopoulos could be anything from 'slam dunk' to 'dud'

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Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump is suing ABC News and George Stephanopoulos for defamation after the "This Week" host said several times on air that the former president was "found liable for rape," but whether he has a legitimate case is up for debate.

"The statement that Trump was found liable for rape is a lie," Fox News contributor Leo Terrell told Fox News Digital.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., a rape survivor, says she felt personally attacked when Stephanopoulos, a former top aide to President Bill Clinton, asked during a heated interview this month how she could support former President Trump when he was found "liable for rape."

Stephanopoulos used the term "liable for rape" 10 times during the interview, but a federal jury in New York decided that Trump was not liable for rape but was liable for sexual abuse and defamation in the 2023 civil trial of advice columnist E. Jean Carroll vs. Trump.

ABC NEWS' GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS INACCURATELY SAID TRUMP WAS FOUND ‘LIABLE FOR RAPE’ 10 TIMES, LEGAL GURUS SAY

"Not withstanding the fact that Donald Trump is a public figure and the standard for defamation is much higher. ABC News and George Stephanopoulos cannot find a civil or criminal verdict for Donald Trump for rape," Terrell said.

"Let me be clear and simple," he continued. "There is