A federal judge in Florida has given former President Donald Trump a strict deadline to provide testimony or risk losing his ten billion dollar defamation suit against the BBC. U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett ordered Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11, following complaints from the broadcaster’s legal team that the former president had been intentionally stalling the process. A previously scheduled session in October was canceled by Trump’s camp citing a matter of national importance, though BBC attorneys later informed the court that the conflict was actually a political rally and fundraiser.
The tension between the two parties centers on a documentary produced by the BBC that edited together clips from Trump’s speech at the Ellipse on January 6, 2021. While Trump alleges that this editing created a malicious and false depiction of his actions, leading to massive financial damages, the BBC maintains that no defamation occurred. Adding to the complexity, the network pointed out that the program never even aired within the United States, casting doubt on how it could have caused such extensive domestic harm to his brand or business interests.
In addition to ordering the deposition, Judge Lett ruled that the proceedings may be videotaped despite objections from Trump’s legal team. She also sided with the BBC regarding a subpoena sent to Mar-a-Lago concerning membership fees and applications. Although Trump’s lawyer tried to block this request, claiming those records were irrelevant, the judge noted that since Trump is suing for injuries to his profession and trade, such financial data is fair game for discovery.
Trump’s representatives remained defiant after the ruling, describing the litigation as a powerhouse effort to hold mainstream media accountable for what they call reckless election interference. However, with discovery set to close on December 18, the clock is ticking quickly for him to comply with the court order or see his multi-billion dollar claim dismissed entirely.
