Friday, June 12, 2026 - Donald Trump's lawyers are attempting to block the BBC from obtaining the US president's financial records as part of his $10 billion defamation case against the broadcaster.
Trump is seeking substantial damages in a Florida court over
the editing of a Panorama documentary from 2024 about the US Capitol riots. The
documentary has faced criticism for giving the impression that the president
had encouraged his supporters to storm the Capitol building on January 6, 2021,
after he lost the election to Joe Biden. Trump alleges the Panorama episode,
broadcast shortly before the presidential election he won, caused him
reputational and financial injury.
The BBC is requesting financial records from the Donald J
Trump Revocable Trust, which holds the president's business interests and
assets and is managed by his eldest son. In doing so, it is seeking to
determine the extent of the financial damage it allegedly caused Trump with the
broadcast. In legal documents, the BBC's lawyers rejected claims of a
"fishing expedition."
"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 court papers said. However, in the same legal documents,
the trust, which is also represented by Trump's lawyers, argued the BBC's
demand "is premature, improper, and especially burdensome."
They added: "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."
Both sides are seeking a court ruling on the dispute.
However, as first reported by the Financial Times, Trump's legal team has
requested a delay pending the outcome of a request for a new judge in the
matter, which the BBC opposes.
They claim in separate court papers that magistrate judge
Enjolique Lett's "prior representation of a client that was directly
adverse to president Trump creates an appearance of impropriety."
The BBC's lawyers said: "The impetus for plaintiff's
request appears to be the flat refusal by the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, a
third party that is represented by the same counsel as plaintiff, to provide
any financial information under subpoena, despite plaintiff's claims that the
defendants injured 'the value of his brand, properties, and businesses.'"
The allegations led 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 that 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 that the programme was
never aired in the state or anywhere in the US.
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