A federal judge in Florida, Cecilia Altonaga, ruled that former President Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos can proceed. The case stems from Stephanopoulos's comments during a televised interview where he stated that a jury found Trump liable for raping E. Jean Carroll, a claim Trump argues is false and damaging to his reputation. Although a jury did find Trump liable for sexual abuse and awarded Carroll $5 million, it explicitly did not find him liable for rape. Judge Altonaga emphasized the distinction between legal terms and public understanding, stating that a reasonable jury could interpret Stephanopoulos’s statements as defamatory. Following the ruling, Trump celebrated the decision as a significant victory against what he terms 'ABC Fake News'. The case is timely, coinciding with an upcoming presidential debate hosted by ABC News where Trump has expressed concerns about the network's suitability.