BBC Seeks to Subpoena Trump Family Members in Defamation Lawsuit

The BBC is seeking to subpoena members of Donald Trump's family for documents and testimony in the US president's defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster. The BBC's legal team has attempted to serve subpoenas to Donald Trump Jr, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner, who are the president's son, daughter, and son-in-law, respectively. The subpoenas are part of the president's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC over an edited episode of Panorama that aired in 2024. The BBC has previously apologized for an editing error that gave the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action. However, the BBC has denied that the edit was grounds for defamation and has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit. The BBC's lawyers argue that Trump's family members have personal knowledge of his intentions in delivering the speech, making their testimony and documents relevant to the president's defamation claim. They point to evidence gathered by a US congressional committee that suggests Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump were present when their father revised and delivered his speech, and that Jared Kushner drafted a proposed statement for him that would have condemned the use of violence. The BBC's legal team has faced challenges in serving the subpoenas, with attempts to deliver them by hand being refused at police checkpoints and by the Secret Service. The team has now requested that the court allow the subpoenas to be served by email and certified mail. The lawsuit has been ongoing since last December, with the BBC asking the court to dismiss the case and the president's legal team arguing that the BBC intentionally defamed the president. A trial date has been scheduled for February 2027, should the case progress. The BBC's move to subpoena Trump's family members is a significant development in the case, and it remains to be seen how the court will rule on the matter. ### The Background of the Lawsuit The lawsuit stems from an edited episode of Panorama that aired in 2024, which edited together two different sections of a speech President Trump gave before the 2021 Capitol riots. The BBC has apologized for the edit, but denied that it was grounds for defamation. ### The BBC's Argument The BBC's lawyers argue that the edit did not meet the legal criteria for defamation and that the program was not made available on the BBC's US platforms. They have also asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the BBC has no liability in the matter. ### The President's Argument President Trump's legal team argues that the BBC intentionally defamed the president and that the edit was malicious and deceptive. They have also argued that disclosure of the president's financial records would cause him "irreparable harm." ### The Next Steps A trial date has been scheduled for February 2027, should the case progress. The court will need to rule on the BBC's request to subpoena Trump's family members, and it remains to be seen how the case will unfold.