Judge Pushes Trump Lawyers to Justify Missed Deadline in BBC Defamation Case
A Miami judge has issued an order requiring Donald Trump’s legal team to explain why they should not be fined for missing a deadline to reply to the BBC’s request to drop the $10 billion defamation suit.
The lawsuit stems from a clip of Trump’s speech that the BBC edited, making it appear as if he urged supporters to storm the Capitol after losing the 2020 election. Trump alleges the broadcaster deliberately stitched together unrelated parts of his address, creating a false impression of incitement.
The BBC has apologized and admitted the mistake, stating the edit wrongly suggested Trump called for violence. In March, the BBC argued that Trump had not presented enough evidence to prove the broadcaster knowingly spread falsehoods or acted recklessly.
The judge’s order compels Trump’s attorneys to clarify why they should not face penalties for what he sees as a simple oversight.