BBC Seeks to Subpoena Trump Family in $10bn Panorama Lawsuit

The BBC has attempted to subpoena three members of Donald Trump's family as the broadcaster mounts its legal defence against the US president's $10bn (£7.4bn) defamation lawsuit. Court filings show that BBC lawyers tried in May to serve subpoenas on the president's son Donald Trump Jr., his daughter Ivanka Trump, and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Background: The Panorama Lawsuit

Trump sued the BBC over an episode of Panorama which edited together two different sections of a speech he gave outside the US Capitol before the January 6, 2021 riot. The BBC has previously apologised for the edit but denied it constituted grounds for defamation. BBC lawyers argue the family members have personal knowledge of the president's intentions when delivering the speech, making their testimony directly relevant to the case.

Attempts to Serve Subpoenas Rebuffed

According to the court filing, a representative for the BBC's legal team tried to serve a subpoena for Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at their Florida home but was refused entry at a police checkpoint and later told by the Secret Service that it could not accept subpoenas. Attempts to serve Donald Trump Jr. at Trump Tower in New York were also unsuccessful, with the concierge citing the absence of the relevant legal department. The BBC now seeks court permission to serve the subpoenas by email and certified mail. Both the BBC press office and Trump's legal team declined to comment.