In brief
In a notable development, U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman has set a trial date for Donald Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC for February 2027. Trump filed the lawsuit following a controversial edit of his speech delivered on January 6, 2021. He accuses the BBC of defamation and unfair trade practices. The BBC, which edited his speech for a documentary, has defended its actions, leading to higher stakes as the trial approaches.
LONDON (AP) — A U.S. judge has confirmed that Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC will be heading to trial set for February 2027. This comes after Judge Roy K. Altman of the Southern District of Florida dismissed the BBC's request to delay the proceedings.
Trump's legal action stems from a complaint filed in December, alleging that the BBC edited his speech from January 6, 2021, which coincided with supporters storming the U.S. Capitol. The lawsuit claims $5 billion in damages for defamation and an additional $5 billion for unfair trade practices.
The contentious speech, where Trump called on his supporters to "fight like hell," was altered in a BBC documentary titled 'Trump: A Second Chance?', which aired shortly before the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election. The BBC spliced three quotes from two different parts of the speech, omitting a part where Trump urged for a peaceful demonstration.
In response to the edit, the BBC extended an apology to Trump; however, it maintains that it did not defame him. The fallout has already led to the resignations of the BBC's top executive and the head of news.
Recently, BBC representatives filed a motion seeking to dismiss the case, asserting that the court lacks jurisdiction in this matter and that Trump has not adequately stated a claim. They requested a postponement of the discovery process pending the outcome of their dismissal motion, which the judge deemed 'premature' at this stage of the proceedings.
