Trump's Legal Team Withholds Financial Records in BBC Defamation Suit
US President Donald Trump's legal team has declined to provide financial information requested by BBC lawyers in the $10-billion defamation case against the broadcaster, according to a report by the Financial Times on Friday, citing court filings. Trump accuses the publicly funded BBC of defaming him by editing his January 6, 2021, speech to falsely suggest he directed supporters to storm the US Capitol.
The impetus for Trump's request to delay appears to be the flat refusal by the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust to provide any financial information under subpoena, the newspaper quoted the BBC as stating in a court filing. This action came despite Trump's claims that the BBC injured the value of his brand, properties, and businesses, and the president's own refusal to date to provide any financial information in discovery, the paper added.
Lawsuit Details and BBC's Defense
Trump's lawsuit, filed in Florida in December, alleges that the BBC violated a state law prohibiting deceptive and unfair trade practices. He seeks at least $5 billion in damages on each of its two counts. The broadcaster and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Trump's legal team told the newspaper that the BBC was liable for intentionally and maliciously defaming him by distorting and manipulating his speech.
In a statement, the spokesperson added, "President Trump will continue to hold accountable the BBC and all those who traffic in fake news."
Trust Managed by Trump's Eldest Son
In its bid to ascertain the documentary's financial impact, the BBC subpoenaed the trust, managed by Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, as the sole trustee, which holds the president's business interests and assets, the paper said. The BBC legal team has sought financial documents reflecting the trust's holdings and value, assets, inventories, and properties, citing court filings from May that it viewed. The request covers almost 400 entities owned by or associated with the trust, as well as tax returns.
The documentary, first broadcast in 2024 shortly before a presidential election Trump won, featured a section where he told supporters to march on the Capitol and another, from nearly an hour later, where he said, "Fight like hell." The BBC apologized to Trump for the edit but wants his lawsuit thrown out. Trump's subsequent reelection showed the alleged defamation did not harm his reputation, the broadcaster said in court papers released in March.
