US Judge Orders Trump to Sit for Deposition in $10bn Lawsuit Against the BBC

A US judge has told Donald Trump he must give a deposition by 11 December and engage properly with the evidence-sharing stage of his $10bn lawsuit against the BBC. The Guardian reports that if he does not, he faces sanctions that could go as far as having the case thrown out.

What the Lawsuit Is About

The claim concerns a Panorama documentary that stitched together two remarks Trump made almost an hour apart during his 6 January 2021 rally, shortly before the Capitol riot. The BBC has conceded that this edit was misleading. The Guardian adds that Trump has separately and falsely claimed the corporation used AI to put words in his mouth.

The programme was not easy to watch in Florida, where the case was filed. Trump's lawyers say he was nonetheless harmed by it and rely on Florida's consumer-protection law on unfair and deceptive trade practices.

What the Judge Decided

Magistrate judge Enjoliqué Lett, at a Miami hearing on Thursday:

• ordered Trump to be deposed by 11 December;
• refused to stop the seven-hour session being filmed, although only attorneys on the case will be able to view the footage;
• accepted the BBC's argument that Trump's side has been slow to hand over its own internal records, and gave it 30 days to do so;
• let the BBC's subpoena for records from Mar-a-Lago go ahead.

Lett told Trump's Florida attorney, Alejandro Brito, that it "strains credulity" that the search for documents had been thorough. Referring to the sanctions warning, she called this "the last opportunity" for Trump's team to take part properly.

The Scheduling Dispute

A deposition booked for 16 October was called off, with Trump's counsel pointing to "other matters of national importance". The BBC replied that Trump had spent that day campaigning in Georgia. Brito said the president has "a host of things" going on that the BBC's lawyers cannot see.

Trump's team has since offered a deposition in the second or third week of January. Lett said she was bound by the current timetable, but district judge Jeffrey T Kuntz has the power to extend it. BBC attorney Charles Tobin said the BBC would accept a later date if Kuntz moves the deadline.

What Happens Next

Trump's side has 30 days to produce documents. After that, either the deposition takes place by 11 December or Kuntz changes the schedule. The Guardian's report does not give a trial date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Donald Trump suing the BBC?

He objects to a Panorama programme that joined two separate parts of his 6 January 2021 speech. The BBC accepts the edit was misleading, according to The Guardian.

What has the judge ordered?

Trump must be deposed by 11 December and take part fully in the document-sharing process. Non-compliance could bring sanctions, including dismissal of the case.

Could the deposition date change?

Possibly. Judge Kuntz can extend the timetable, and the BBC says it would agree to a later date if he does.

Key Takeaways

• Deposition deadline: Trump must be deposed by 11 December or risk sanctions, up to dismissal.
• Documents: his team has 30 days to hand over records the judge found lacking.
• The edit: the BBC accepts the Panorama edit was misleading; the dispute is over legal liability in Florida.
• Scheduling: Trump's team has offered mid-January; only Judge Kuntz can move the discovery deadline.