A federal magistrate judge has ordered Donald Trump's Revocable Trust to begin providing financial records to the BBC within ten days, a development in the British broadcaster's defense against the former president's $10 billion defamation lawsuit.
Judge Enjoliqué Aytch Lett granted the BBC's motion to compel in part, mandating the production of documents while narrowing the subpoena to records from January 1, 2023, onward. The trust must make its initial production within ten days and continue weekly submissions until the request is fulfilled.
The defamation case centers on a 12-second edited segment of Trump's January 6, 2021 address, which was featured in a BBC Panorama film broadcast weeks before the 2024 election. The edited clip presented Trump saying, "We're going to walk down to the Capitol ... and I'll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell." Trump contends that the selective editing, which he claims omitted context from over 50 minutes later in his speech, created the false impression that he incited the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Following the broadcast, BBC Director-General Tim Davie resigned, and Chairman Samir Shah sent a letter to Trump in November admitting the film "gave the mistaken impression that you had made a direct call for violent action."
Trump's trust, which holds his business interests and has nearly 400 associated entities with Trump as its sole beneficiary, had characterized the BBC's demand for records as a "fishing expedition." The BBC, however, claims the financial records will demonstrate that Trump's wealth has increased by over $1 billion in the past year, directly contradicting his assertion that the documentary caused him financial harm.
The BBC is also seeking to have the case dismissed, arguing that a Florida court lacks jurisdiction over a television program that did not air in the United States. Separately, the broadcaster is pushing to depose Trump, with lawyer Chuck Tobin stating that Trump's legal team has been unresponsive to requests for scheduling the deposition.
Last week, Trump's legal team attempted to narrow the scope of the case by withdrawing economic damage claims and focusing solely on harm to his reputation. Attorney Alejandro Brito informed the judge that the case had "evolved" and that the damages pursued were now more narrowly defined. However, BBC lawyer Chuck Tobin argued that separating the man from his business operations is not feasible, given Trump's public persona and business dealings.
Judge Lett stated she did not have the authority to dismiss the business claims herself. Trump has the option to appeal the ruling to District Judge Roy Altman, whom he previously appointed.
