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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
David Fischer and Jocelyn Noveck

Trump given deposition deadline in $10bn BBC defamation case

  • US Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett has ordered President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by 11 December in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC , warning of potential sanctions including dismissal of the case if he fails to comply.
  • Legal counsel for the BBC requested court intervention after Trump cancelled an agreed 16 October deposition citing "matters of national importance", which turned out to be a campaign event in Georgia, leading to concerns over deliberate delays.
  • Trump launched the $10 billion legal action last December over the documentary "Trump: A Second Chance", alleging defamation after filmmakers merged quotes from his 6 January 2021 speech to make it appear he was encouraging violence.
  • Although the BBC apologised for the editing error—which led to the resignation of top executives—the broadcaster rejects claims of defamation and maintains it needs to depose Trump to prepare a robust defence.
  • The Miami court also heard arguments regarding the BBC's subpoena of former special counsel Jack Smith, an action Trump's lawyers strongly oppose by arguing Smith lacks personal knowledge of Trump's state of mind or speech preparation.

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