Donald Trump ordered to turn over financial records in $10bn BBC lawsuit

A federal judge has ordered Donald Trump to disclose financial records as part of his $10billion (£7.5 billion) defamation lawsuit against the BBC.

The high-profile legal battle was launched over a Panorama documentary, which Mr Trump said misconstrued his speech on the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots.

The President alleges the BBC intentionally edited portions of his speech delivered before the attack, creating what his legal team claims was the false impression he encouraged supporters to storm the US Capitol.

Mr Trump also alleges the broadcaster's actions damaged his reputation and caused significant financial harm to his businesses, properties and brand.

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Following a three-hour hearing in a Florida court yesterday, Federal Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett ruled Mr Trump's financial information is relevant to the case.

According to reports from the hearing, the judge said "reputational, economic damages – all of that is now at issue in this case".

The ruling is expected to provide the BBC's legal team with access to financial records connected to hundreds of companies owned by the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, which is managed by Donald Trump Jr.

The President's lawyers had previously opposed requests for the documents, arguing they amounted to a "fishing expedition".

However, during yesterday's hearing, attorney Al Brito indicated the president's legal strategy had narrowed since the lawsuit was first filed.

Mr Brito told the court Mr Trump is now focusing primarily on claims of reputational harm rather than financial losses suffered by his business interests.

"The damages are limited in a way that is different from when the case was originally filed," Mr Brito said.

"Even if there has been harm to the brand, we are not pursuing that as part of our damages. It's a far more narrow scope of what this case is about."

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The BBC earlier issued an apology over the Panorama documentary, which aired in 2024.

While the broadcaster acknowledged errors relating to the programme, it has denied liability for defamation and is seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed.

Last week, Mr Trump's legal team withdrew claims against the BBC's commercial and production subsidiaries but maintained the case against the corporation's public service broadcaster.

Lawyers representing the BBC have argued in court filings Mr Trump's successful return to the White House demonstrates he did not suffer the reputational damage alleged in the lawsuit.

They contend the President cannot establish the level of harm required to support his claim for damages.

During yesterday's hearing, Mr Brito argued a written apology issued by BBC chairman Samir Shah last November recognised inaccuracies in the documentary's portrayal of the President's remarks.

He told the court: "What matters is what he said relative to what was broadcast that he said. That's it. There's nothing more that needs to be examined."

In a statement after the hearing, a spokesman for Mr Trump's legal team accused the BBC of deliberately altering the president's speech and said the lawsuit was intended to hold the broadcaster accountable.

The BBC has confirmed it will vigorously defend the case as the litigation moves forward.

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