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BBC seeks court help to subpoena Trump family in $10B defamation suit
The BBC is seeking court assistance in a Florida federal court to subpoena Donald Trump’s family members—Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner—as part of a $10 billion defamation lawsuit filed by the former U.S. President.
The lawsuit alleges that a 2024 Panorama documentary maliciously edited segments of Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech to create a misleading impression that he was inciting violence. While the BBC has apologized for the editing error, it denies that the broadcast constitutes defamation.
The broadcaster argues that the family members possess personal knowledge and relevant records regarding Trump’s true intentions during the speech. However, multiple attempts to serve the subpoenas in person have been unsuccessful. The BBC reports that the U.S. Secret Service has blocked process servers from reaching the family members due to their security protocols, and the agency has stated it is not authorized to accept civil subpoenas on behalf of its protectees.
In response to these obstacles, the BBC has requested judicial authorization to serve the subpoenas through alternative methods, such as email and certified mail. Trump’s legal team has criticized these efforts, accusing the broadcaster of harassment and attempting to abuse the deposition process to distract from its own liability.
Entities
BBC · Donald Trump · Donald Trump Jr. · Ivanka Trump · Jared Kushner
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 19 SOURCES] The BBC apologized for an editing error in a Panorama documentary that gave the impression Trump called for violence. theeyeofmedia.com · www.digitalnewsreport.com · www.gbnews.com · time.news · n.com.do · +13 more
- [● 24 SOURCES] Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner possess personal knowledge and relevant records regarding the January 6 speech. theeyeofmedia.com · www.digitalnewsreport.com · www.gbnews.com · time.news · n.com.do · +17 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] The US Secret Service stated it is not authorized to accept civil subpoenas on behalf of its protectees. theeyeofmedia.com · www.digitalnewsreport.com · www.gbnews.com · time.news · kahawatungu.com · +8 more
- [DISPUTED] Donald Trump is seeking $10 billion in damages in a defamation lawsuit against the BBC. theeyeofmedia.com · www.digitalnewsreport.com · www.gbnews.com · time.news · n.com.do · +18 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] The BBC has requested court permission to serve subpoenas via alternative methods like email and certified mail. theeyeofmedia.com · www.digitalnewsreport.com · www.gbnews.com · time.news · kahawatungu.com · +12 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] The BBC filed a request in a Florida federal court for assistance in obtaining testimony and documents from Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Donald Trump Jr. www.gbnews.com · fortune.com · www.newsday.com · theeyeofmedia.com · www.digitalnewsreport.com · +10 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] The BBC apologized for a misleading edit in a documentary but denied committing defamation. fortune.com · www.newsday.com · www.gbnews.com · time.news · www.scmp.com · +9 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Donald Trump's legal team accused the BBC of harassment and abusing the deposition process. www.gbnews.com · time.news · ca.news.yahoo.com
- [● 14 SOURCES] The BBC reported that attempts to serve subpoenas were thwarted by U.S. Secret Service protection. www.gbnews.com · fortune.com · www.newsday.com · theeyeofmedia.com · www.digitalnewsreport.com · +9 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Donald Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC in December. www.gbnews.com · fortune.com · www.newsday.com
- [● 10 SOURCES] The lawsuit alleges the BBC spliced parts of a January 6 speech to misrepresent Trump's words. fortune.com · www.newsday.com · www.gbnews.com · time.news · www.scmp.com · +5 more