ABC News
News division of Disney's ABC network
- Entries
- 11
- On the record
- 3
- Stories
- 1
- Latest entry
- Jun 10, 2025
The record
ABC News is the news division of the ABC television network, whose parent company is the Walt Disney Company. Much of its record outside the Trump settlements sits in court filings and Disney's corporate disclosures. The longest case began in September 2012, when Beef Products Inc. sued ABC subsidiaries and employees in South Dakota state court over March and April 2012 reports about Lean Finely Textured Beef, seeking more than $400 million and later as much as $1.9 billion.
That suit was settled during trial in 2017, according to Disney's quarterly filing, which also recorded a $177 million charge for the quarter, net of committed insurance recoveries, in connection with the settlement of litigation. In 2024 Donald Trump sued ABC and George Stephanopoulos in federal court in Florida over statements in a March interview. A judge declined to dismiss the suit that July, and it was settled in December for $15 million to a planned presidential foundation and museum, plus $1 million in fees.
Its record also includes leadership changes and regulatory attention. President Kim Godwin, described as the first Black woman to lead a network news division, said in May 2024 that she was retiring after three years. In March 2025 Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr opened an investigation into diversity, equity and inclusion practices at Disney and ABC, and in June 2025 ABC said it would not renew correspondent Terry Moran's contract after a social media post it said broke its policies.
Roles and honours on the record
- as of 2024 News division of ABC, whose parent company is the Walt Disney Company source
- 2012-2017 Its reports were the subject of Beef Products, Inc. v. American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., brought in South Dakota state court against Disney subsidiaries and employees source
- 2024 Host of the September 10, 2024 presidential debate in Philadelphia, moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis source
- 2024 Defendant with George Stephanopoulos in Donald Trump's defamation suit, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida source
Every entry, newest first
- Reported
Disney agreed to pay $15 million to Trump's presidential library plus $1 million in fees over a Stephanopoulos on-air claim, per Variety. Meta, Paramount, ABC settled Trump suits: $25M, $16M, $15M
Stories in this file
The record, entry by entry
- 2012-09-13 Filed Beef Products Inc. and other plaintiffs sued certain Disney subsidiaries and employees in South Dakota state court for defamation, product disparagement and tortious interference over ABC News reports from March and April 2012 about Lean Finely Textured Beef. The Walt Disney Company, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 1, 2017 (SEC)
- 2017-05-09 Official Disney told investors the trial was set for June 2017 and that it could not predict the outcome or estimate the range of possible loss. The plaintiffs had said in March 2016 that damages could reach $1.9 billion. The Walt Disney Company, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 1, 2017 (SEC)
- 2017-08-08 Official Disney reported that the case had been settled during trial in the quarter ended July 1, 2017. It recorded a $177 million charge that quarter, net of committed insurance recoveries, in connection with the settlement of litigation. The Walt Disney Company, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 1, 2017 (SEC)
- 2024-03 Filed Donald Trump sued ABC News and George Stephanopoulos for defamation days after a March interview in which Stephanopoulos said Trump had been found liable for rape. A civil jury in a separate case had found Trump liable for sexual abuse and answered no on rape. NBC News report
- 2024-05 Reported ABC News president Kim Godwin said she was retiring after three years. Disney executive Debra OConnell, installed earlier that year to oversee the news division, would lead it for the time being, the AP reported. Associated Press report via NBC News
- 2024-07 Ruled A federal judge declined to dismiss Trump's suit against ABC and Stephanopoulos, allowing it to proceed, NBC News reported. NBC News report
- 2024-09-10 Reported ABC News hosted the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, under rules both campaigns agreed, including muted microphones. NBC News report
- 2024-12-14 Reported ABC agreed to pay $15 million to a presidential foundation and museum for Trump and $1 million toward his legal fees, and to add an editor's note saying it regretted the statements. An ABC News spokesperson said the parties had agreed to dismiss the suit. NBC News report
- 2025-03-28 Reported FCC Chairman Brendan Carr told Disney CEO Bob Iger the agency would investigate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at Disney and ABC to ensure they had not violated FCC equal employment opportunity rules. Disney said it was reviewing the letter. CNBC report via NBC News
- 2025-06-10 Reported ABC News said it would not renew Terry Moran's contract after suspending him over a social media post about White House aide Stephen Miller that it called a clear violation of its policies. Moran had joined ABC News in 1997. NBC News report