Key facts
- The BBC is seeking U.S. court assistance to obtain testimony from Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Donald Trump Jr.
- The request is related to Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC.
- The BBC claims the Trump family members have relevant knowledge and records concerning the lawsuit.
- The broadcaster has faced difficulties serving subpoenas due to security protocols surrounding the individuals.
- Trump alleges the BBC defamed him by editing a speech to misrepresent his words and influence the 2024 election.
The BBC has requested assistance from a U.S. court to secure testimony and documents from members of Donald Trump's family, including Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Donald Trump Jr., in connection with a $10 billion defamation lawsuit filed against the broadcaster.
In a filing on Friday in federal court in Florida, BBC lawyers argued that these individuals possess crucial personal knowledge and relevant records pertaining to Trump's claims. The broadcaster stated that serving subpoenas has been challenging due to the Secret Service protection afforded to the family members.
Donald Trump initiated the lawsuit in December, accusing the BBC of defamation and deceptive trade practices. The core of the dispute involves a 2024 documentary that allegedly edited a speech Trump delivered on January 6, 2021, before the Capitol attack. Trump contends the BBC intentionally misrepresented his words by splicing together separate parts of his speech, aiming to interfere with the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
The BBC has since apologized for the misleading edit but maintains it did not defame Trump. The latest court filing highlighted that Trump's family members have knowledge relevant to the argument that it would be materially false to imply he incited violence on January 6. Specifically, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. were reportedly in the Oval Office as Trump revised his speech, and Donald Trump Jr. spoke with his father after the Capitol events.
According to the filing, Trump refused the BBC's request to accept subpoenas on behalf of his daughter and son-in-law or to instruct the Secret Service to permit service. Consequently, the BBC asked the court to authorize service via email and certified mail. Trump's legal team responded by accusing the BBC of attempting to distract from their liability and of harassing the former president and his family through the deposition process.
A trial in the case is provisionally scheduled for February. Separately, a federal judge in Florida recently granted Trump a temporary stay from an order requiring him to disclose financial details of his business empire, pending consideration of an amended complaint that narrows his damages claim.