Judge rules Trump must hand over records sought by BBC in defamation case
A Florida judge has ordered Donald Trump to release financial records as part of the BBC's defense in a $10 billion defamation lawsuit. The case centers on a BBC report regarding the January 6 Capitol riot, with the judge ruling that the BBC is entitled to evidence regarding Trump's claims of financial loss.
Why it matters
This ruling impacts the discovery process in a high-profile legal battle between a former US president and a major international news organization, potentially setting precedents for defamation evidence requirements.
Image source, Getty Images By Tom Bateman Miami Published 15 minutes ago A judge in Florida has ruled President Donald Trump must hand over financial records sought by the BBC as it defends itself in his $10bn (£7.5bn) defamation lawsuit.
The order came during the first hearing in the case, in which the US president is suing the corporation over an episode of Panorama that edited together different sections of his speech on the day of the US Capitol riot on 6 January 2021.
Judge Enjoliqué Lett granted a motion by the BBC's legal team to compel the release of financial records held by the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, which he created to manage his businesses while he is president.
The judge's ruling at Tuesday's hearing in Miami, Florida, can still be appealed.
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