BBC to file motion to dismiss Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit
BBC seeks to challenge US court over Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit
- The BBC is preparing to challenge a $10 billion defamation lawsuit filed by US President Donald Trump, seeking its dismissal.
- The legal action originates from a 2024 Panorama programme which Mr Trump alleges falsely portrayed him encouraging supporters to storm the US Capitol in 2021.
- Mr Trump's legal team claims the editing of his speech, which included phrases like “We fight like hell”, was “false and defamatory”.
- The BBC intends to argue that the Florida court lacks personal jurisdiction over the broadcaster and that Trump has failed to plausibly allege “actual malice”.
- The controversy earlier led to an apology from BBC chair Samir Shah for an “error of judgement” and the resignations of Director-General Tim Davie and Head of BBC News Deborah Turness.