Trump asks Florida court to block BBC subpoenas of Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr
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President Donald Trump asked a federal court in southern Florida to deny a BBC motion to subpoena his children Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr and son-in-law Jared Kushner in a $10bn defamation lawsuit. Trump's lawyers argued the BBC launched a politically charged discovery campaign beyond the case's scope. The BBC sought testimony from family members present at Trump's January 6, 2021 speech.
Key Facts
- Trump's lawyers filed a motion on Friday asking the US district court in southern Florida to reject the BBC's subpoena request.
- The BBC sought testimony from Donald Trump Jr, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner as part of its defense in the $10bn lawsuit.
- The lawsuit stems from a BBC Panorama episode that spliced two passages of Trump's January 6, 2021 speech spoken nearly 55 minutes apart.
- The BBC apologized for the editing and removed the Panorama episode from its platforms, but Trump filed the defamation lawsuit in December.
Trump's Legal Challenge
Trump's lawyers argued the BBC embarked on a 'politically charged discovery campaign' by seeking testimony from his eldest son, first daughter, and son-in-law. The court filing compared the BBC's motion to a fishing expedition that goes beyond the scope of the case. Trump's team stated the case concerns a narrow wrong: the BBC's deliberate splicing of two passages from his January 6, 2021 speech. The filing said the BBC attempted to pursue a sweeping investigation disguised as discovery rather than litigate that narrow claim.
BBC's Defense Strategy
The BBC sought testimony from figures close to Trump to establish his thoughts and actions on the day of the January 6 attack. Both Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump were present at their father's speech and spoke to the president and his inner circle as violence erupted at the Capitol. The BBC denied the defamation charge and pledged to fight the lawsuit in court.
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Trump asks Florida court to block BBC subpoenas of Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr
