Judge Sets Trump Deposition Deadline in $10 Billion BBC Defamation Case

President Donald Trump must sit for a deposition by Dec. 11 in his $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC, a federal magistrate judge ordered Thursday, warning that failure to comply could lead to dismissal unless the discovery schedule is extended.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett issued the deadline during an Oct. 22 hearing in Miami. The Associated Press reported that she also directed the Justice Department to respond by Nov. 2 to former special counsel Jack Smith’s request for permission to testify. The BBC has subpoenaed Smith.

The lawsuit concerns a BBC documentary that combined separate portions of Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021, speech. Trump alleges the editing defamed him. The broadcaster has acknowledged an editing error and apologized but denies defamation.

Trump seeks $5 billion on the defamation claim and another $5 billion under Florida’s law against deceptive and unfair trade practices, according to the New York Post.