Trump urges court to reject BBC's bid to secure records from his family in defamation case

President Donald Trump has formally requested a federal judge to deny the BBC’s effort to obtain testimony and documents from his family members in connection with his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster. The request came through a court filing submitted by Trump’s legal team, which argues that the BBC’s actions constitute an attempt to gain “politically-driven leverage” over the former president. The BBC had sought the court’s assistance in serving subpoenas on three of Trump’s close relatives, his daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and son Donald Trump Jr., as part of its defense in the ongoing litigation. In a recent filing, the broadcaster had proposed using certified mail rather than in-person service to deliver the subpoenas. However, Trump’s attorneys have opposed this approach, claiming it would allow the BBC to exert undue influence over the proceedings. The case is being heard by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz in Miami, who took over the case from another judge just days prior. While the exact reason for the transfer remains unclear, the new judge has yet to issue a ruling on the BBC’s motion. The previous judge had previously scheduled a trial for February, indicating that the case is still progressing toward a resolution. Earlier this year, attempts by the BBC to serve subpoenas on Ivanka Trump and Kushner at their home were thwarted by Secret Service agents, who claimed they were not authorized to accept such legal documents. According to Trump’s legal team, the process server also attempted to deliver the subpoenas to Donald Trump Jr. at Trump Tower in New York, though these efforts were unsuccessful. At the heart of the lawsuit is Trump’s claim that the BBC misrepresented his remarks during a January 6, 2021, speech at the White House. During the address, Trump made statements regarding the events leading up to the Capitol riot, which saw a mob of his supporters storm the building in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump asserts that the BBC edited segments of his speech in a manner that distorted his intended message. The lawsuit further alleges that the BBC aired its documentary featuring the altered footage just weeks before the 2024 presidential election, which Trump claims was done deliberately to sway public opinion in favor of his political opponents. He maintains that the edits were made with the intent to damage his reputation and influence the electoral process. In response to the BBC’s motion, Trump’s legal team emphasized that the broadcaster’s requests could not be separated from the broader context of a politically motivated discovery campaign. They cited a prior ruling by the court that found the BBC’s initial subpoena requests to be overly broad and inappropriate. While the BBC has issued an apology to Trump for the alleged misleading edit, it has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that its coverage was accurate and that it does not intend to defame the former president. The case continues to unfold as both sides prepare for potential legal battles ahead.