THE DAILY BS: HOW MUCH CAN YOU HANDLE?
SPARE ME THE BS (I’ve got things to do).
- A federal judge ordered Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11 in his defamation case against the BBC.
- The case involves a documentary that misleadingly combined portions of Trump’s January 6 speech.
- The BBC has subpoenaed former special counsel Jack Smith, but his proposed testimony remains disputed.
LAY IT ON ME (I’ve got time).
A few seconds of misleading television editing have become a $10 billion legal battle, and now a judge wants President Trump answering questions under oath.
A federal judge ordered Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11 in his defamation lawsuit against the BBC. The broadcaster has acknowledged that a documentary combined separate portions of Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech in a misleading way and apologized. It disputes that the edit supports Trump’s enormous damages claim.
The dispute is now in discovery, where even a president who filed the suit has obligations to provide evidence. Lawyers argued over a previously planned October deposition and Trump’s availability. The judge warned that continued noncompliance could produce sanctions, including possible dismissal, depending on the circumstances and any later orders.
Enter Jack Smith, the former special counsel whose investigation concerned Trump’s conduct surrounding the 2020 election and January 6. The BBC subpoenaed Smith, apparently believing his investigative work may help its defense. Trump’s lawyers object that Smith did not write the speech, attend its delivery or possess direct knowledge of the president’s thoughts.
Smith’s status as a former Justice Department employee adds another procedural complication. The Justice Department has been asked to address the question of authorizing relevant testimony. A subpoena is not the same thing as a judge ordering Smith to take the stand.
The broadcaster also wants information relevant to Trump’s claimed reputation damage. That means a controversy that began with a video edit may now turn into a detailed examination of evidence, finances and the meaning of the broadcast.
Nobody has won $10 billion; that’s the sum Trump seeks. And the BBC’s apology did not settle the litigation. The next big moment may be less telegenic than the original documentary: lawyers, questions and a deposition transcript.
DBS WIRE SOURCES (I’ve got all day).
- Associated Press — Trump ordered to testify
- CBS News — BBC lawsuit deposition ruling
- Axios — Trump BBC discovery deadline
