BBC seeks to subpoena Trump family in Panorama lawsuit
Court filings reveal BBC legal team attempted in May to serve subpoenas to Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner over a Panorama defamation lawsuit.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- BBC legal representatives attempted to serve subpoenas to Trump's family in May.
- The lawsuit centers on a Panorama episode featuring edited speech footage.
- BBC has asked the court to dismiss the case, stating it lacks grounds for defamation.
- A trial date has been scheduled for February 2027 if the proceedings continue.
Court filings show that the legal team representing BBC made attempts in May to serve official subpoenas to President Donald Trump's son Donald Trump Jr., his daughter Ivanka Trump, and son-in-law Jared Kushner. This legal move is part of an ongoing defamation lawsuit filed by the president against the broadcaster over an episode of the investigative program Panorama, which edited together two distinct sections of a speech delivered prior to the 2021 Capitol riots.
While BBC previously issued an apology for the editing error that created the impression of a direct call for violent action, the organization has consistently denied that the broadcast meets the legal thresholds for defamation. Last December, Trump originally filed a lawsuit against BBC alongside subsidiaries BBC Studios Productions and BBC Studios Distribution regarding the 2024 Panorama episode.
This high-profile legal battle highlights the complex challenges news organizations face regarding journalistic discretion and video editing standards. By attempting to subpoena key family members who were present during the drafting and delivery of the speech, BBC's legal defense is actively seeking to leverage firsthand accounts regarding the context and statements surrounding the disputed broadcast as the litigation moves toward a potential 2027 trial date.
Drawing on prior evidence gathered by a US congressional committee, court documents indicate that Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump were present when their father revised and delivered the speech, and that Jared Kushner drafted a proposed statement intended to condemn violence. The filing requests court permission to serve the subpoenas via email and certified mail after physical hand-delivery attempts failed.
According to the documents, delivery agents attempting to serve Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at their Florida residence were turned away at a police checkpoint, with the Secret Service later stating they could not accept the papers. Similar difficulties occurred at Trump Tower in New York, where building staff informed representatives that the relevant legal department personnel were unavailable.
Source: BBC World
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