In brief
In a new court ruling, a U.S. magistrate has directed former President Trump to complete a deposition for his defamation lawsuit against the BBC by 11 December. The case stems from a Panorama episode that edited together two sections of Trump's speech before the 2021 Capitol riot. Trump previously cancelled a deposition citing national importance; the court now requires compliance unless the discovery period is extended. The BBC defended the clip as a mistake, claiming it did not reach a U.S. audience, and had already dropped a related lawsuit against its commercial arm.
Trump Must Give Deposition on BBC Defamation Case
A U.S. magistrate judge has issued a deadline for former President Trump to answer questions under oath in a defamation lawsuit he filed against the BBC. The court order, set for 11 December, follows a canceled deposition on 16 October when Trump cited national priorities while campaigning in Georgia.
The lawsuit centers on a Panorama episode that stitched together two separate parts of Trump's speech delivered outside the Capitol on 6 January 2021. Trump alleges the edited clip made him appear to call for violent action, a claim that the BBC has acknowledged was incorrect and has apologized for.
Despite the apology, Trump insists the broadcaster knew the segment could damage his reputation. The BBC, however, argues that the clip was not broadcast in the United States, and it has since asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit. Last July, Trump's lawyers admitted they had no evidence that the documentary was available on the BBC's BritBox subscription service or the BBC website in the U.S.
After negotiations, Trump agreed to drop the lawsuit against the BBC's commercial arm, BBC Studios, citing that the company had no role in producing the episode.
