BBC to file motion to have Donald Trump defamation lawsuit thrown out

The BBC is set to file a motion to dismiss Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit stemming from a 2024 Panorama program. The lawsuit alleges that the program falsely implied Trump encouraged his supporters to storm the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, through selective editing of his speech, specifically a clip where he said, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”

The BBC’s motion will argue that the Florida court lacks jurisdiction, the venue is improper, and Trump has failed to state a valid claim. They contend that the documentary was not created, produced, or broadcast in Florida and dispute Trump’s assertion that it was available on the streaming service BritBox. The BBC will also assert that Trump has not demonstrated “actual malice,” a requirement for public officials pursuing defamation claims in the US.

The corporation has requested a stay on pre-trial information gathering (discovery) until the court rules on the motion to dismiss, anticipating that Trump will seek an overly broad and objectionable scope of discovery related to the BBC’s coverage of him over the past decade. A trial date of 2027 has been proposed if the case proceeds. A BBC spokesperson confirmed they will defend the case but offered no further comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.

(Source：Thenational Scot)