Judge Sets December Deadline for Trump Deposition in BBC Lawsuit

The court’s directive follows a dispute over a previously agreed-upon October 16 date, which Trump canceled citing unspecified matters of national importance. BBC attorney Charles Tobin argued that the former president had prioritized campaign appearances in Georgia over his legal obligations. The broadcaster contends that Trump is attempting to stall the discovery process until January 2027, effectively preventing them from mounting a defense.

Trump initiated the litigation last December, alleging the BBC engaged in defamation and deceptive trade practices regarding the documentary "Trump: A Second Chance." The broadcaster previously apologized for splicing segments of Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech, an editing decision that led to the resignations of top BBC executives. As the discovery period nears its December 18 close, the BBC has also subpoenaed former special counsel Jack Smith, arguing his extensive investigation into the Capitol events makes him a uniquely authoritative witness. Trump’s legal team has moved to block the subpoena, claiming Smith lacks personal knowledge of the president’s state of mind at the time of the speech.