Trump ordered by judge to reveal financial records in BBC defamation case

By Nick Lester, Press Association US Editor in Washington DC

Donald Trump has suffered a setback in his $10 billion dollar defamation case against the BBC after a judge ruled the US president must turn over financial records sought by the broadcaster.

The American leader’s legal team had attempted to block the move, claiming it was “premature, improper, and especially burdensome”.

Trump is seeking substantial damages in a Florida court over the editing of a Panorama documentary from 2024 about the US Capitol riots.

Ruling on the disclosure dispute, Judge Enjolique Lett granted the request by BBC lawyers for information from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, which holds the president’s business interests and assets and is managed by his eldest son.

However, the judge’s decision can be appealed against.

In earlier legal documents, the BBC’s legal team had rejected claims of a “fishing expedition”, and said the details were needed to assess the financial impact of the programme.

The court papers stated: “Defendants have requested information from these entities only because plaintiff alleges without limitation that his financial interests have been impacted by defendants’ actions and because plaintiff is the sole beneficiary of a trust that owns or is associated with nearly 400 entities.”

The trust, which is also represented by Mr Trump’s lawyers, had sought to resist the demand previously arguing: “Although plaintiff has alleged that his businesses have suffered damages as a result of the documentary, that alone does not give defendants carte-blanche to obtain sweeping financial discovery from hundreds of non-parties.”

In suing the BBC, Mr Trump alleges the Panorama episode, broadcast shortly before the 2024 presidential election he won, caused him reputational and financial injury.

The documentary has faced criticism for giving the impression the US president had encouraged his supporters to storm the Capitol building on January 6 2021 after he lost the election to Joe Biden.

The allegations led the then-BBC director-general Tim Davie to announce his resignation.

BBC chairman Samir Shah apologised on behalf of the broadcaster over an “error of judgment”, and accepted the editing of the programme gave “the impression of a direct call for violent action”.

However, the broadcaster is seeking to have the case thrown out, warning of the “chilling effect” it would have on “robust reporting on public figures and events”.

It has also challenged the jurisdiction of a Florida court to hear the case given the programme was never aired in the state or the US.