Trump Must Sit for BBC Deposition by Dec. 11, Judge Rules
Judge Sets a December 11 Deposition Deadline
A federal magistrate judge in Miami, Enjoliqué Lett, ordered President Donald Trump on Thursday to sit for a deposition by Dec. 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. BBC attorney Charles Tobin told the court that with two months left in discovery, "we still haven't been able to depose the plaintiff." Trump sued the BBC last December in Florida federal court, alleging its 2024 "Panorama" documentary spliced portions of his Jan. 6, 2021 speech to make it appear he directly urged supporters to storm the Capitol. The BBC apologized for the edit and pulled the program, but insists the mistake is not enough to sustain a defamation claim.
October 16 Deposition Was Canceled
Attorneys for both sides negotiated a schedule over the summer that included an Oct. 16 deposition. Trump's lawyers canceled it, citing "matters of national importance," and the BBC then asked the court to compel his appearance. Judge Lett also rejected Trump's request to block the deposition from being videotaped; the seven-hour session will be accessible only to attorneys in the case. She warned that if Trump fails to comply with court orders to turn over records relevant to the case, the suit could be thrown out, and said she was "not satisfied" Trump's team had conducted a complete search for documents related to the Jan. 6 speech.
BBC Seeks Jack Smith's Testimony
BBC Challenges Florida Jurisdiction
The BBC is also challenging the Florida court's jurisdiction, arguing the program was never aired in the state or the United States. Trump's team counters that he was personally damaged under Florida's Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. BBC chair Samir Shah acknowledged the edit created a "misleading impression" by making excerpts from different portions of the speech appear continuous, producing the "mistaken impression" that Trump had made a "direct call for violent action." The BBC nonetheless maintains the error does not meet the legal standard for defamation and that the plaintiff must prove actual damages.
Two Deadlines: Dec. 11 and Dec. 18
The deposition must be completed by Dec. 11 or Trump could face sanctions, including possible dismissal of the $10 billion suit, unless discovery is extended beyond Dec. 18. BBC lawyers noted that "nearly eight months into discovery, after seven depositions of BBC witnesses, and with only two months of discovery remaining," they still have no schedule to depose "the most central figure in this case." Trump's lawyers stress that his presidential duties and security requirements must be accommodated when arranging testimony. The case now turns on whether the deposition proceeds on time and how the court resolves the Smith subpoena and jurisdictional questions.
