Full Breakdown
Trump Cancels Deposition in BBC Defamation Case
By Drooid · · How we work
Deposition Cancelled Amid “National-Importance” Claim
On 28 September, lawyers for former President Donald Trump notified the BBC’s counsel that he would no longer be available for his scheduled deposition on 16 October, citing “matters of national importance.” The cancellation occurs after months of preparation for the testimony, which the BBC argues is the most critical piece of discovery in the lawsuit.
Background of the Defamation Suit
Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster in December, alleging that a Panorama documentary about the 2020 election and the Capitol riot edited his speech to suggest he encouraged the violence. The BBC later apologized for the editing error, and the controversy prompted then-director-general Tim Davie to resign. In response, Trump’s legal team framed the suit as an effort to hold the BBC accountable for what they described as reckless election interference.
Legal Maneuvers and Discovery Disputes
The BBC’s legal team filed a Miami-court motion on 25 September, referencing a 21 September letter that highlighted Trump’s repeated delays in producing records responsive to discovery requests. BBC lawyer Charles Tobin emphasized that, eight months into discovery and after seven depositions of BBC witnesses, the plaintiff’s own deposition remains pending with only two months left in the discovery phase. The broadcaster also seeks dismissal of the case, warning that a judgment could chill robust reporting on public figures.
Official Positions
Trump’s spokesperson reiterated that the lawsuit aims to hold the BBC responsible for defamation and alleged election interference, aligning the case with the former president’s broader campaign against “fake news” outlets. The BBC, meanwhile, has challenged the jurisdiction of the Florida court, noting that the Panorama program was never aired in the United States.
Future Proceedings
The BBC has asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett to compel Trump to schedule a deposition, while Trump’s lawyers have suggested availability only in the second or third week of January—outside the court-ordered discovery deadline. The dispute over the deposition date and the broader jurisdictional challenge remain unresolved as the case moves toward a potential dismissal hearing.