UK/US
President Trump Ordered to Answer Questions Under Oath in $10 Billion BBC Defamation Lawsuit by December 11: U.S. President Donald Trump has been ordered by a federal judge to answer questions under oath by December 11 as part of his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, escalating a high-profile legal battle between the American president and the British public broadcaster.
The order was issued on Thursday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett after lawyers for the BBC raised concerns about delays in securing Trump’s testimony. The president had previously been scheduled to sit for questioning on October 16 but did not attend.
The case centres on a BBC Panorama programme that edited together two separate portions of a speech Trump delivered before the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump’s legal team argues that the programme presented his remarks in a misleading way, forming the basis of his defamation claim.
BBC Lawyers Seek Answers Under Oath
The BBC’s legal team has been seeking an opportunity to question Trump directly about his allegations. The broadcaster’s lawyers have complained that repeated delays have made it difficult to obtain his testimony as the case moves through the discovery process.
Judge Lett’s ruling establishes December 11 as the deadline for Trump’s deposition, unless the discovery period is extended by the judge overseeing the broader case.
The deposition would allow BBC lawyers to question Trump under oath about his claims and the circumstances surrounding the disputed programme. Such questioning is a standard part of the evidence-gathering process in civil litigation.
Dispute Over Edited Speech
The lawsuit focuses on the BBC’s editing of Trump’s January 6 speech. The programme combined portions of his remarks that were delivered at different points, prompting criticism over whether the resulting edit accurately represented what he said.
Trump contends that the editing damaged his reputation and has sought $10 billion in damages. The BBC has faced scrutiny over the programme and the editorial decisions behind it.
The dispute has raised broader questions about journalistic editing, the responsibilities of broadcasters and the legal boundaries of reporting on political figures.
A High-Stakes Legal Battle
The case comes amid continuing tensions between Trump and major media organisations. His legal action against the BBC is one of several high-profile disputes involving news outlets and allegations of defamation.
The December deadline represents a significant procedural step, although it does not determine the merits of Trump’s allegations. The lawsuit will continue through the U.S. legal system, where the parties may present evidence and arguments before the court reaches any final decision.
For the BBC, the proceedings could provide an opportunity to challenge Trump’s claims through formal legal questioning. For the president, the deposition would require him to respond to questions from the broadcaster’s lawyers under oath.
