The BBC on Tuesday asked a U.S. federal judge in Florida to force Donald Trump to submit to a deposition in the billionaire defamation lawsuit he brought against the broadcaster, saying his legal team cancelled a previously arranged session.
In a court filing, the BBC’s attorneys said they and Trump’s lawyers had agreed to hold the deposition on Friday, but that the session was called off by Trump’s side. The filing added that the BBC spent months trying to secure a location for the deposition from Trump’s team.
The request asks the judge to compel Trump’s lawyers to schedule and produce the former arrangement for the deposition, a standard step in civil litigation that allows parties to question witnesses under oath as part of the discovery process. The BBC argued the deposition is necessary to move the case forward.
The filing follows the $10 billion defamation suit Trump filed against the British broadcaster. The BBC did not elaborate in the filing on the basis for the cancellation, and the judge has not yet ruled on the BBC’s motion to compel. Further hearings or orders from the court could determine timing and logistics for the deposition.
Legal proceedings in high-profile defamation cases between public figures and media organisations often hinge on discovery disputes such as depositions and document production. A court order compelling testimony would require compliance by the defendant’s legal team or could lead to additional sanctions or scheduling directives from the judge.
Both parties are now before the court seeking resolution of the procedural impasse, and the judge’s response will shape the next stage of the litigation.