Trump allies pitched the idea after it was announced that ABC News and its host George Stephanopoulos reached a $15 million defamation settlement with Donald Trump for falsely accusing him of being a convicted rapist.
After it was announced that ABC News reached a $15 million defamation settlement with Donald Trump over George Stephanopolous falsely claiming that he was found "liable for rape," the president-elect's backers have pointed out another individual who has made similar false statements: Democrat Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
The Illinois Review reported that former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is also a Democrat, floated the idea of Trump suing Pritzker in a post on X. Serving as a surrogate for VP Kamala Harris on the 2024 campaign trail, Pritzker referred to the president-elect as an "adjudicated rapist." During his first term in the White House, Trump pardoned Blagojevich of corruption charges.
"Now that Trump successfully won his defamation case against ABC for calling him a 'rapist,' when will he sue Illinois Governor JB Pritzker for repeatedly lying & calling him the same thing?" wrote Blagojevich.
Trump recently resolved a defamation lawsuit he brought against ABC News and George Stephanopolous, which was initiated after the news anchor falsely stated on air that Trump was found liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll. A jury did not find Trump liable for rape, but rather for sexual abuse and defamation. As a result, the network agreed to pay $15 million to a foundation associated with Trump.
Also encouraging Trump to hold Pritzker accountable for his false statements was Roger Stone, one of Trump's most dedicated allies, who also received a presidential pardon from him. Stone wrote on X that Trump would have all the video evidence needed to sue the billionaire governor.
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