BBC Seeks Court Help to Question Trump Family in $10 Billion Defamation Case

The BBC has asked a US federal court for help obtaining documents and testimony from members of President Donald Trump’s family as part of its defence against his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster.

In a filing made Friday in federal court in Florida, BBC lawyers said Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and Donald Trump Jr. have personal knowledge of issues that could be relevant to the case and may possess documents connected with Trump’s claims.

The broadcaster said it had been unable to serve subpoenas on the three because they receive protection from the US Secret Service and have other security personnel around them.

The BBC asked the court to permit the subpoenas to be delivered by email and certified mail. It said it had previously asked Trump to accept the subpoenas on behalf of his daughter and son-in-law or instruct security personnel to allow them to be served, but that request was rejected.

The judge has given Trump’s legal team until Friday to respond to the BBC’s request.

Trump filed the $10 billion lawsuit in December, accusing the BBC of defamation as well as deceptive and unfair trade practices. The dispute centres on a 2024 BBC documentary that used excerpts from a speech Trump gave on January 6, 2021, before his supporters attacked the US Capitol.

Trump’s lawsuit alleges that the broadcaster edited the speech by joining together two separate sections in a way that falsely suggested he had encouraged violence. His lawyers also accused the BBC of attempting to influence the 2024 presidential election.

The BBC has apologised for the editing, acknowledging that it created a misleading impression, but has maintained that the programme did not amount to defamation.

In its latest filing, the BBC argued that Trump’s family members could provide evidence about his claim that it would be materially false to suggest he had incited violence on January 6.

According to the filing, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. were present in the Oval Office while Trump was still making changes to his speech. The BBC also said Trump Jr. spoke directly with his father after violence had erupted at the Capitol.

Trump’s legal team rejected the BBC’s request, accusing the broadcaster of using the deposition process to distract from what it described as its own liability.

“The BBC intentionally defamed President Donald J. Trump,” the legal team said, adding that the broadcaster was seeking to harass Trump, his family and supporters.

A trial in the case has been provisionally scheduled for February.

The litigation comes as the court considers other disputes involving the lawsuit. Last week, US District Judge Roy Altman temporarily halted an order requiring Trump to provide information about the financial performance of his business empire while he reviews an amended complaint that could narrow the damages claims.