Politics · United States · 2 hrs ago
Trump’s Lawyers Cancel Deposition in BBC Defamation Case
Trump’s lawyers canceled his October 16 deposition in the defamation lawsuit he filed against the BBC.
The case concerns the broadcaster’s editing of a speech Trump gave on January 6, 2021, in a documentary shown shortly before the 2024 presidential election.
Trump claims the editing defamed him, while the BBC argues the documentary was not shown in the United States and that the Florida court lacks jurisdiction.
The BBC says it still has no date to question Trump, although discovery in the case is due to end in about two months.
His lawyers proposed moving the deposition to January, after that period, saying he was unavailable because of other matters of national importance.
The BBC has asked a federal judge to make scheduling the deposition part of a hearing next week.
The lawsuit has also led to court-ordered release of Trump’s financial records and records from special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into efforts to overturn the election.
The judge may address the deposition schedule at the upcoming hearing, while the BBC is also seeking to have the case dismissed.
Trump’s lawyers canceled his October 16 deposition in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, according to a court filing.
They said he was unavailable for about two months because of other matters of national importance.
The BBC is asking a federal judge to require Trump to set a deposition date before discovery ends.
Trump’s lawyers proposed moving the deposition to the second or third week of January, after the discovery period is due to end.
Trump sued the BBC over its editing of a speech he gave on January 6, 2021.
- Who
- President Donald Trump and the BBC are parties to the defamation lawsuit.
- What
- Trump’s lawyers canceled his scheduled deposition. The BBC is asking a judge to require him to commit to a date.
- When
- The deposition was scheduled for October 16. Trump’s lawyers said he was unavailable for about two months.
- Where
- The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in south Florida.
- Why
- Trump says the BBC defamed him by deceptively editing a speech he gave on January 6, 2021. His lawyers said he was unavailable because of other matters of national importance.
Trump and his lawyers
The BBC
Deposition scheduling
Trump and his lawyers
Trump’s lawyers canceled the October 16 session and proposed moving it to the second or third week of January.
The BBC
The BBC wants Trump to commit to a date before the discovery period ends.
Lawsuit
Trump and his lawyers
Trump alleges the BBC defamed him by deceptively editing his January 6, 2021, speech.
The BBC
The BBC is seeking to have the case dismissed, arguing the documentary did not air in the United States and the court lacks jurisdiction.
Trump’s lawyers reportedly agreed that he would testify on October 16 if both sides kept the location and other details secret.
Trump’s attorneys said the previously agreed deposition date no longer worked.
Trump’s lawyers suggested moving the deposition to the second or third week of January.
A court filing said Trump’s lawyers had canceled the October 16 deposition.
The BBC wants the deposition scheduling added to the agenda of a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett.
- Lawsuit value
- $10 billion
- Scheduled deposition
- October 16
- Proposed new timing
- Second or third week of January
- Discovery remaining
- Two months, according to the BBC attorney
- Judge
- U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett
3 sources
What people are saying
The President is no longer available for his deposition on October 16 due to other matters of national importance.
There is hardly a more crucial and relevant piece of discovery in a defamation lawsuit than the deposition of the Plaintiff.