Judge Orders Trump to Give Deposition by December 11 in BBC Defamation Suit

US Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett ordered Donald Trump to appear for a deposition by December 11 in his defamation lawsuit against the BBC. The judge warned that failure to meet the deadline could result in sanctions, including dismissal of the case.

The order followed complaints from BBC lawyers that Trump had repeatedly delayed appearing for questioning. Attorney Charles Tobin told the court that, with two months remaining in the discovery period, they had still not been able to depose the plaintiff.

The two sides had previously agreed to an October 16 deposition, but Trump canceled, citing a matter of national importance. Tobin stated that Trump was actually campaigning in Georgia and prioritized party politics over the deposition.

Trump filed the $10 billion lawsuit in Florida last December over a BBC Panorama documentary that edited parts of his January 6, 2021, speech to make it appear he urged violence at the US Capitol. The broadcaster apologized for the edit but denies defaming him.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness resigned over the scandal. The BBC has asked the court to throw out the case, arguing the documentary never aired in Florida or anywhere in the US.

The BBC's motion stated that Trump cannot plausibly claim the documentary harmed his reputation because he won the 2024 election a week after it aired and carried Florida by a wide margin. The broadcaster added that the documentary accurately described the loyalty Trump enjoys among his supporters.

The judge also set a December 18 deadline for any extension of the discovery period. If Trump misses the December 11 deadline without an extension, he risks having his lawsuit thrown out.