Judge Orders President Trump to Face December Deposition in $10B BBC Defamation Case
Judge Kuntz mandates President Trump answer questions under oath in BBC defamation suit despite efforts to postpone.
Ali Shaker/VOA/Wikimedia Commons
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz has refused to delay President Donald Trump’s deposition in the $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, setting a clear December deadline for sworn testimony regarding Trump’s family finances. This ruling comes amid ongoing legal battles and attempts by Trump’s legal team to avoid the deposition.
Judge Kuntz Enforces Deposition Schedule
Just one day after allowing Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC to move forward, Judge Kuntz insisted that the president comply with current discovery deadlines. In a Thursday order, Kuntz emphasized the logistical challenges of arranging the deposition and mandated that any changes or requests to delay the president’s appearance be submitted in writing by November 16. The judge’s firm stance signals an unwillingness to tolerate further delays from Trump’s legal team.
Background of the Lawsuit and Deposition Delays
President Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC over its documentary “Trump: A Second Chance,” which covers the aftermath of the January 2021 U.S. Capitol attacks. The BBC contends that the lawsuit’s enormous damages claim justifies probing Trump’s financial status. The president’s attorneys have resisted providing sworn testimony on his family’s money, leading to the cancellation of an initially scheduled deposition on October 16.
BBC lawyers revealed that the original proposed deposition date was in July, but follow-up requests went unanswered until a new date was set for October 16. The BBC has expressed frustration over the ongoing delays, noting the difficulty in deposing the central figure in the case.
BBC’s Frustration and Legal Pressure
Charles D. Tobin, attorney for the BBC, criticized the stalling tactics in court filings, stating, “With two months of discovery remaining, the BBC still has not been able to depose, and does not even have a schedule to depose, the most central figure in this case: Plaintiff himself.” Tobin argued that these delays undermine the discovery process and hinder the BBC’s ability to mount a strong defense.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett previously warned Trump’s team that failure to comply with deposition requirements could lead to dismissal of the entire suit. Despite these warnings, Trump’s lawyers sought an expedited motion to stay the deposition and discovery deadlines, which Judge Kuntz has yet to grant.
Legal Experts and Observers React
Simon Mark, a reporter for I Paper, likened Trump’s resistance to take the stand as “blood in the water” for BBC attorneys. Mark commented, “Little by little, week by week, the BBC is humiliating Donald Trump in a Florida courtroom that lies just 15 miles from his much-prized golf resort outside Miami.” This situation underscores the mounting pressure on the president amid the high-stakes litigation.
As the December deposition deadline approaches, all eyes remain on whether President Trump will comply or continue to seek ways to delay the process. The court appears poised to enforce compliance strictly, signaling that the president’s testimony under oath is imminent.
