ABC News Faces Legal Threat Over Report Involving Trump Family
ABC News may encounter serious repercussions as legal action is considered by 1789 Capital, following a controversial report regarding the Trump family. Alexa Henning, spokesperson for 1789 Capital, stated, “We still have our attorneys completely plugged into this, and we’re not taking options off the table because they can’t get away with writing completely false things and hit jobs.” Henning expressed determination to challenge the report and publicize the truth.
1789 Capital, where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner, is contemplating legal proceedings against ABC News. The issue arose after ABC News removed a report about supposed investments linked to President Trump’s sons, only to later publish a revised version. The initial article alleged that companies tied to Trump’s sons had obtained billions in government contracts, a claim that drew notable criticism.
The controversy focused on the claim that 1789 Capital acquired a significant stake in Anduril Industries through a $2.5 billion investment. However, this figure represented the broader fundraising, with 1789 Capital’s portion being approximately $50 million.
The original report, now available via the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, was titled “Trump sons’ investments have won billions in Pentagon contracts since his election.”
Following backlash and legal threats, ABC News significantly revised and republished the article. The updated version acknowledged inaccuracies concerning investments and contracts while clarifying that Trump Jr. does not participate in investment decisions at the firm. The new headline reads, “New shipyard announced amid earlier Democratic concerns about potential conflicts of interest,” with the original byline replaced by “ABC News.”
Henning criticized ABC News for not contacting 1789 for comment before the initial publication and asserted that ABC’s defense of the report was sudden and unwarranted. She remarked that understanding the complexity of venture capital growth is essential for reporting accurately on such topics.
Henning dismissed claims that the report’s premature publication was unintentional, highlighting that an editor had supported it fully at the time. She pledged continued monitoring of ABC’s coverage, noting that legal recourse remains on the table as discussions with ABC and Disney persist.
Calls for an FCC investigation into the report arise from Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, in response to concerns about journalistic integrity. Henning cited opportunities missed by ABC in addressing the systemic issues of inaccuracies, underscoring that the viral dissemination of the initial report by notable figures amplified the wrong message.