U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett issued an order today demanding that former President Donald Trump appear for a deposition in the BBC’s $10 billion defamation case in New York by December 11, 2026. The judge’s ruling follows the BBC’s repeated requests and a missed depositions date on October 16 when Trump was campaigning in Georgia.
The BBC’s lawyers, led by attorney Charles Tobin, had agreed to a deposition on October 16 but Trump withdrew, citing a "matter of national importance." Tobin highlighted that Trump was actively campaigning in Georgia on that day, prioritizing party politics over court obligations.
The lawsuit, filed last December, accuses the British broadcaster of defamation and deceptive practices tied to its documentary "Trump: A Second Chance." In response, the BBC apologized for an editing error that misrepresented Trump’s January 6 speech and saw its head and chief news executive resign.
Meanwhile, the BBC has subpoenaed former special counsel Jack Smith in an effort to secure testimony on the events of January 6. Trump’s legal team argued that Smith, not being a party to the case, lacks personal knowledge and that his testimony is duplicative, while the BBC countered that Smith’s investigative work makes him the most authoritative source.
Judge Lett warned that failure to comply by the deadline could result in sanctions or dismissal of the case unless the discovery period is extended beyond December 18. The next federal court hearing is set for December 18, where the judge will decide on any sanctions or dismissal.