Trump sues BBC for $10 billion; broadcaster seeks subpoenas for his children and son‑in‑law

British public broadcaster BBC has asked a Florida court to issue subpoenas for members of Donald Trump’s family as part of its defense in the $10 billion defamation suit the former president filed against the outlet.

The BBC’s legal team asked the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to approve service of subpoenas on Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner. The requests say the family members may be compelled to testify and produce documents about the events of January 6, 2021, when supporters of the then-president stormed the U.S. Capitol.

In its court filing the broadcaster argued that “These individuals have personal knowledge and likely possess or control documents relevant to multiple elements of the plaintiff’s allegations against the BBC.”

Deadlines and reactions

The court gave Trump’s lawyers until Friday to respond to the subpoena request. Trump’s attorney in the case, Alejandro Brito, had not offered a public reply by the filing deadline.

A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team accused the BBC of trying to harass Trump, his family and his supporters through an abuse of the subpoena process, and added that “The BBC is simply trying to divert attention from its clear responsibility.”

Trump filed the lawsuit against the BBC in December, alleging defamation and fraudulent and unfair trade practices. The complaint centers on a 2024 Panorama documentary that, according to the suit, edited his speech in Washington shortly before the January 6 attack. The BBC’s director-general later resigned over the controversy surrounding the documentary.

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