Bullied

This cartoon was originally published on Pepperspectives. Click here to subscribe to Pepperspectives, where you’ll learn about the continuing threats to our democracy and the actions you can take to help safeguard it.

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ABC News recently settled a defamation lawsuit brought against it by Donald Trump. The suit stemmed from ABC News personality George Stephanopoulos earlier this year saying Trump was found liable for rape in the E. Jean Carroll trial. The jury did not find Trump liable for rape; instead, due to New York’s strict definition of rape, the jury found Trump liable for sexual assault. But during the later Stormy Daniels hush money trial, Judge Lewis Kaplan stated that the distinction between sexual assault and rape was semantic difference, and that for all intents and purposes Trump did rape Carroll.

While Trump was correct that he was not found liable for rape, he would have had a difficult time winning a defamation case. He was found liable for sexual assault. A judge equated what Trump did with rape. Trump is on record saying he feels free grabbing women by their genitals. Even disregarding protections against libel and slander due to Trump’s status as a public figure and public official, it’s hard to argue that his reputation was damaged. This was a case that ABC News could have won.

Instead, ABC News capitulated and settled. One of the hallmarks of authoritarianism is control of the press. ABC News’ kowtowing to Trump has set a terrible precedent. It has almost assuredly emboldened Trump, who has already begun threatening journalists and other media outlets for doing their jobs.

This is how democracy dies.

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