Judge orders Trump deposition in BBC lawsuit

Oct 25 · ABC and CBS settle with Donald Trump for $16 million each Updated 19:03

The Daily Beast reported that ABC and CBS settled with Donald Trump for $16 million each in separate matters. According to The Daily Beast, former White House attorney Ty Cobb predicts that Trump will refuse to complete the court-ordered deposition, claiming Trump avoids depositions because they allow questioning on his bankruptcies, felonies, and the Epstein files. Above the Law reported that the court emphasized the plaintiff's deposition is crucial discovery and that the December 11 deadline remains unless a district judge extends the discovery period. The BBC countered that Trump's cited 'matters of national importance' were a campaign rally and an RNC event, while a spokesperson for Trump described the case as a 'powerhouse lawsuit' holding the BBC accountable.

The Daily Beast shifts the focus from a scheduling conflict to a strategic risk. By citing Ty Cobb, the report suggests the resistance to the deposition is not about official duties, but about avoiding questioning on bankruptcies, felonies, and the Epstein files. This frames the December 11 deadline as a pivot point for the lawsuit's survival rather than a mere calendar dispute.

Above the Law engages with the core legal tension by contrasting the 'matters of national importance' claim with the BBC's evidence that the missed dates were for campaign rallies. This highlights the court's role in determining whether a high-profile plaintiff is using official status as a shield to evade discovery.

The report from The Daily Beast on settlements with ABC and CBS suggests a pattern of resolving media disputes through payment rather than discovery. This creates a contrast between the BBC's pursuit of testimony and the outcomes of other similar lawsuits.

Oct 23 · BBC executives resign following Panorama documentary controversy Updated 23:50

The BBC apologized for giving the mistaken impression that Donald Trump called for violent action in a 'Panorama' episode. Fox News reported that the documentary spliced Trump's January 6, 2021, remarks and omitted his call for peaceful protest. The BBC removed the program after the apology. The BBC's CEO and Director-General resigned as a result of the controversy, and other executives resigned following the editing of the speech. The BBC argues the broadcast was not available in the U.S. and does not meet defamation criteria. Trump's legal team claims the BBC maliciously doctored the speech to interfere in the 2024 election. Trump dropped claims against the BBC's production and commercial arms. BBC lawyers complained that Trump delayed a previously agreed-upon deposition date to campaign in Georgia. Trump's lawyers had previously suggested a deposition date in January 2027, and the BBC reported that Trump's lawyers have suggested dates in January for the deposition. Trump's lawyers argue that Jack Smith lacks personal knowledge of the events and that his testimony would be duplicative of public reports.

The proposal by Trump's lawyers to schedule a deposition in January 2027 provides a concrete answer to the question of whether a high-profile plaintiff can avoid discovery by citing official duties. The gap between the court's December 11 deadline and the proposed 2027 date suggests an attempt to push the legal process beyond the current political cycle.

Variety engaged with the core of the discovery battle by detailing this specific timeline conflict and Trump's decision to drop claims against the BBC's commercial and production arms. PBS expanded the scope of the dispute by reporting on the attempt to subpoena Jack Smith, showing that the discovery fight is not just about Trump's testimony but also about who else the BBC can force to testify.

Readers should now watch whether the court views the 2027 proposal as a legitimate scheduling request or as evidence of willful evasion, which would strengthen the grounds for dismissing the lawsuit.