Ex-Trump Lawyer Says President Unlikely to Sit for Deposition in BBC Defamation Suit

Former White House attorney Ty Cobb has weighed in on President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, stating that the legal battle has “backfired” now that Trump has been ordered to appear for a deposition. Cobb predicted that the president will “likely refuse to go,” complicating the case further.

Background of the Lawsuit

President Trump initially filed the lawsuit against the BBC in December, accusing the network of editing his January 6, 2021, speech in a documentary that aired just days before the 2024 presidential election. The suit alleges the BBC’s edit was a “brazen attempt to interfere in and influence” the election. Cobb pointed out that Trump has sued multiple media outlets over stories he did not like, despite the reporting being truthful.

Deposition Ordered by Magistrate Judge

The lawsuit took a critical turn when U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett ordered Trump to be deposed by December 11. This came after the BBC’s lawyers expressed frustration over Trump’s delayed appearance. Cobb described the situation: “Trump has dragged it out. He’s the plaintiff in the case. He’s the one that invented these claims.” He added that Trump contested the way the BBC edited excerpts of his January 6 speech, hoping the network would cave and pay him off, but they did not.

Potential Consequences of Avoiding Deposition

Cobb emphasized that the case could be dismissed if Trump refuses to testify under oath. He described the forthcoming deposition as “wide-ranging,” likely probing the damage the BBC allegedly caused to Trump’s reputation. The questioning could bring up various controversies affecting the president’s reputation, including bankruptcies, felonies, pardons, and the Epstein files. According to Cobb, these factors make it unlikely Trump will fully comply: “He’s likely to refuse to go. If he does go, he’ll walk out in the middle, and the case will ultimately get dismissed unless the plaintiffs are entitled to and receive his full testimony.”

Legal Strategy and Media Response

Cobb praised the BBC’s lawyers for standing their ground, saying, “The BBC’s lawyers are doing the right thing; they’re defending, and they’re not going away.” He contrasted this with other media outlets, some of which he said “overpaid Trump to try to curry favor with him.” The former White House attorney described the lawsuit as backfiring on Trump now that the legal process is forcing him to confront the facts under oath.

The case continues to develop as the December 11 deposition deadline approaches, with many watching to see whether President Trump will comply or further delay the proceedings.