Politics · India Bureau
US judge orders Trump to sit for deposition in BBC defamation case
A federal judge has ordered former US President Donald Trump to undergo a deposition by December 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation. The order came after BBC lawyers complained about repeated delays in Trump's appearance in the case.
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US Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett issued the directive on Thursday, responding to concerns raised by the BBC's legal team regarding Trump's continued absence from his own defamation proceedings. The British broadcaster's attorney, Charles Tobin, informed the court that with approximately two months remaining in the discovery phase, the plaintiff had yet to be deposed despite previous commitments.
Tobin highlighted that an agreed deposition date of October 16 had been cancelled by Trump's representatives, citing unspecified matters of national importance. The judge's order now compels Trump to appear by mid-December as the litigation progresses.
A separate complication has emerged regarding the potential testimony of former special counsel Jack Smith. Federal regulations require current and former government employees to obtain permission from their agencies before testifying in civil cases. Although Smith has submitted a request for clearance, the Justice Department had not yet responded. Judge Lett directed the department to provide an answer by November 2.
The defamation suit, in which Trump seeks $10 billion in damages from the BBC, has been marked by procedural complications and scheduling disputes since its filing. The case remains in its discovery phase, which typically involves extensive document exchanges and witness interviews before trial proceedings commence.