BBC asks federal judge to compel Trump deposition in $10bn defamation lawsuit

BBC attorneys asked a federal judge in Florida to force Donald Trump to sit for a deposition in his own $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster. Trump's team had agreed in July to an October 16 deposition but canceled it, citing 'other matters of national importance,' and later proposed dates in January 2027, after the December 18 discovery cutoff. The motion before Judge Jeffrey Kuntz said seven BBC witnesses have been deposed and the BBC still had no schedule to question 'the most central figure in this case: Plaintiff himself.' The BBC wrote that by filing suit, Trump 'accepted the obligations of civil litigation.' The cancellation, citing 'other matters of national importance,' effectively used his presidential position to shield himself from the obligations of a lawsuit he initiated.

“the most central figure in this case: Plaintiff himself.” — BBC attorneys in motion to compel deposition