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The BBC wants Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner questioned under oath in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit, and the fight is now over whether they can even be served subpoenas.
The BBC wants Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner questioned under oath in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit, and the fight is now over whether they can even be served subpoenas.
The case centers on a 2024 BBC Panorama episode that edited together two separate parts of Donald Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech before the Capitol r*ot.
Trump’s lawsuit says the edit made it appear he directly called for v*olent action. The BBC has apologized, saying the edit gave “the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action,” but it denies the program was defamatory and has asked the court to dismiss the case.
In new court filings, BBC lawyers argue Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner may have “personal knowledge” relevant to Trump’s intentions around the speech.
The filing cites congressional evidence saying Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump were present as Trump revised and delivered the speech, and that Kushner drafted a proposed statement that would have condemned the use of v*olence.
The BBC says earlier attempts to serve subpoenas in person were unsuccessful.
Representatives were reportedly blocked from serving Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at their Florida home, and attempts to serve Donald Trump Jr. at Trump Tower also failed.
The broadcaster is asking the court to allow service by email and certified mail.
Trump’s legal team says the BBC “intentionally defamed” him and is now trying to “harass him, his family, and supporters” through the deposition process.
A trial is scheduled for February 2027 if the case moves forward.
Should family members be compelled to testify in a defamation case if lawyers say they have relevant firsthand knowledge?
Sources: BBC News, CBS News, Forbes, The Guardian, The Independent