A federal judge has issued a warning to President Donald Trump, indicating that he may face sanctions for not participating in his lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué A. Lett highlighted Trump’s lack of involvement in the $10 billion lawsuit, where he accuses the BBC of defamation and deception. Although the BBC apologized for an editing mistake, it denies the defamation claims.
Judge Lett stated that the BBC has made multiple requests for Trump’s participation due to his disregard for court procedures. The current dispute involves whether Trump should be questioned under oath. Despite initially agreeing to a deposition date in October, Trump’s team cancelled, citing “matters of national importance.” As a result, the BBC asked the court to compel Trump to appear, asserting that he is attempting to delay the proceedings.
“Going forward, the Court expects strict compliance with its Order, the failure of which will lead to sanctions,”
Judge Lett emphasized in her order. She scheduled a discovery hearing for Thursday to consider the BBC’s request and required Trump’s response by the same date. The court must decide if Trump will be compelled to testify.
Trump’s Legal Team Responds
Although Trump’s lawyers have not directly addressed Judge Lett’s orders, a spokesperson commented to Fox News Digital. They accused the BBC of intentionally defaming Trump through edited content aimed at impacting the 2024 Presidential Election. They claim the BBC has a history of misleading coverage to promote a political agenda.
Newsweek contacted Trump’s attorney Alejandro Brito for comments, though no response was provided before publication.
Trump’s Lawsuit Against BBC
Trump filed his lawsuit in December last year, alleging that the BBC’s edited documentary was an attempt to influence the U.S. presidential election. The episode from the Panorama documentary series, titled Trump: A Second Chance?, combined parts of Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech, suggesting he incited supporters to attack the Capitol. Trump claims this edit harmed his reputation and seeks $5 billion each for defamation and unfair practices.
While the BBC acknowledged the misleading edit, it denies defamation and has moved to dismiss the case.
BBC Pushes for Trump Deposition
In mid-October, the BBC filed a request for Trump to be questioned under oath. The broadcaster accused Trump of delaying tactics, pointing out the unavailability for depositions until January, despite discovery closing in December.
BBC’s attorneys noted repeated attempts to schedule the deposition since July. Despite agreeing to a mid-October date, Trump’s counsel later canceled, referencing other national priorities.
The BBC argues Trump must abide by legal obligations since he initiated this lawsuit.
Details on the BBC Documentary
The controversy emerged after a memo by former BBC adviser Michael Prescott was leaked. Prescott criticized the documentary for lacking balance and taking an anti-Trump stance. He detailed concerns over how Trump’s speech was edited, misleading viewers regarding his intent.
The documentary appeared to unify statements Trump made separately, falsely implying encouragement of Capitol violence. BBC Director General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resigned following the memo’s leak. BBC Chair Samir Shah apologized but refuted claims of attempting to conceal the error. The BBC issued corrections and updated editorial guidelines as part of its response.