Trump cherche à protéger ses finances de la BBC dans une poursuite pour diffamation

President Donald Trump is attempting to block a court order requiring him to provide the BBC with financial details about his business empire by Thursday, as part of a defamation lawsuit he has filed against the British broadcaster. Trump's legal team filed an emergency motion Wednesday with U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett in Miami, requesting that she rescind the order she had previously issued, which granted the BBC access to financial data regarding hundreds of Trump-owned companies. This move comes after Trump alleged that a 2024 BBC documentary harmed his brand and businesses by misrepresenting his January 6, 2021, speech. The lawsuit, initially seeking $10 billion in damages, was later adjusted to claim $5 billion, according to court documents. Trump’s legal representatives argue that the BBC is using the litigation to gain political leverage rather than addressing legitimate concerns about defamation. They assert that the financial disclosures requested by the BBC are excessive and unrelated to the central issue of the case, which centers on alleged reputational damage caused by the documentary. In response, the BBC’s legal counsel maintains that the financial records are crucial for evaluating the validity of Trump’s claims of substantial damages. The network has already expressed regret over the editing practices used in the documentary but insists that there was no deliberate intent to mislead viewers or distort Trump’s statements. The BBC further contends that the case does not fall under the jurisdiction of U.S. courts due to its London-based operations. Trump’s legal strategy includes a request to U.S. District Judge Roy Altman, who oversees the case, to overturn Judge Lett’s decision and permit modifications to the original lawsuit. The proposed revisions aim to narrow the scope of the legal battle, focusing more sharply on the reputational harm Trump alleges he has suffered. According to Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito, the revised complaint emphasizes personal reputational damage as the main compensatory injury sought in the defamation action. The specifics of the new proposed lawsuit remain confidential, sealed from public view. However, Trump’s legal team indicates that the document continues to pursue punitive damages against the BBC. Meanwhile, the BBC has initiated proceedings to have the lawsuit dismissed, citing multiple grounds, including the lack of judicial authority over a foreign entity based in the United Kingdom. Judge Altman, appointed by Trump, has not yet scheduled a hearing or rendered a decision on the BBC’s motion to dismiss. Trump’s legal representatives are preparing additional allegations to bolster their argument for the court’s jurisdiction over the case. These include assertions that the documentary’s producers directed participants in the United States on how to access the content online and that the BBC became aware in real-time that its efforts to restrict access within the U.S. were ineffective. An attorney representing the BBC has not responded to requests for comment on these developments. As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome could set a precedent regarding the extent to which international media organizations can be held accountable in U.S. courts for alleged defamation committed abroad. The case highlights ongoing tensions between high-profile individuals and global media entities, particularly concerning the boundaries of free expression and legal accountability.