Judge Orders Trump Deposition in BBC Defamation Suit
Federal court mandates testimony by December 11 in $10 billion claim over Capitol riots documentary editing.
Callum Smith
A federal judge has ordered Donald Trump to sit for a deposition in his defamation lawsuit against the BBC.
Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett issued the order, setting a firm deadline for the deposition. This ruling also rejected a request from Trump's legal team to prevent the deposition from being videotaped.
Trump seeks $10 billion in damages, alleging personal harm from the broadcast under Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The lawsuit stems from the editing of a 2024 Panorama documentary about the US Capitol riots.
The BBC issued an apology over the editing. This led to the resignations of the head of the BBC and its top news executive. The broadcaster acknowledged filmmakers merged quotes from Trump's January 6, 2021 speech, reportedly creating the impression he was directly encouraging violence.
The BBC challenges the jurisdiction of a Florida court, stating the program did not air in the state or the US. The broadcaster also claims the defamation case would have a 'chilling effect' on robust reporting on public figures and events.
Earlier this month, the BBC subpoenaed former special counsel Jack Smith to bolster its defense. The judge has given the plaintiffs 30 days to produce relevant documents.
The order follows a cancelled deposition on October 16. Charles Tobin, the BBC's attorney, stated, "we still haven’t been able to depose the plaintiff."
Trump reportedly cancelled the October 16 deposition due to a 'matter of national importance.' However, the BBC alleges Trump was actually campaigning in Georgia and prioritized party politics over the deposition. Charles Tobin further claimed, "He was participating in party politics and prioritized that over sitting for the deposition."