Trump and BBC battle over depositions in defamation case

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 16:03 · Archive

Lawyers for Trump and the BBC are fighting in court over whether former special counsel Jack Smith should be deposed.

Donald Trump filed his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC in December, accusing the publicly funded broadcaster of defamation and unfair trade practices related to the documentary 'Trump: A Second Chance'. The BBC acknowledged that filmmakers in the documentary spliced together quotes from different sections of Trump's speech to his supporters on 6 January 2021, before the storming of the U.S. Capitol, to make it seem he was directly urging violence. The BBC apologized for the editing, and both its head and top news executive resigned over the matter.

In a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett in Miami on Thursday, the BBC's lawyers sought to compel former special counsel Jack Smith to be deposed. Trump's lawyers argued that Smith, who is not a party to the case, lacks personal knowledge of the issues and has no good reason to appear. The parties also addressed when Trump himself would be deposed. The BBC said Trump cancelled an agreed date of 16 October, citing 'matters of national importance', and accused him of trying to delay his appearance until January 2027.

The BBC has denied Trump's defamation claims. The judge has threatened sanctions if Trump fails to comply with the court's deposition schedule.

How it is being reported

• Lawyers for Trump, BBC battle over depositions in president's $10 billion defamation caseLawyers for the BBC and Donald Trump are in court arguing over whether former special counsel Jack Smith should be deposed in Trump’s $10 billion defamation case against the British broadcaster.News4Jax · 22 Oct, 15:19
• Lawyers for Trump, BBC battle over depositions in president's $10 billion defamation caseLawyers for the BBC and Donald Trump are in court arguing over whether former special counsel Jack Smith should be deposed in Trump’s $10 billion defamation case against the British broadcaster.Clickorlando · 22 Oct, 15:19

In this story: Donald Trump · BBC · Jack Smith · Judge Enjoliqué Lett · Miami

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