BBC challenges Trump’s legal filing in $10bn defamation lawsuit

The BBC has accused US President Donald Trump of failing to comply fully with a court order in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster, arguing that his legal team's latest document filing raises serious questions about whether an adequate search was conducted.

In a court filing, the BBC said Trump's lawyers had submitted only 26 emails and eight attachments by the November 5 deadline, none of which contained direct communications between the president and his legal advisers that could qualify for attorney-client privilege.

The broadcaster argued that the filing did not meet the requirements of the court's order, which required Trump to provide a detailed privilege log identifying documents withheld on legal grounds.

"The log, like Plaintiff's two document productions to date, does not contain a single communication with Plaintiff or his advisors," the BBC stated in its filing.

The broadcaster also questioned why Trump's team had not listed any documents protected by attorney-client or executive privilege, saying the only protection claimed was attorney work-product.

The BBC asked the court to order Trump's lawyers to submit a declaration within seven days explaining whose records were searched, what types of documents were examined and how the searches were conducted.

It argued that the limited disclosure raised doubts about whether a thorough search had taken place.

The broadcaster highlighted the difference between the two sides' document submissions. It said it had made 13 productions containing 9,371 documents across 114,266 pages, while Trump's team had made two productions containing 155 documents across 1,012 pages.

US Magistrate Judge Enjolique A. Lett had earlier expressed concerns about the adequacy of Trump's legal team's document search, noting that its privilege log contained only 20 documents, according to the report.

The judge said the limited production and the steps taken by Trump's lawyers raised questions about whether all relevant documents had been collected.

Trump is suing the BBC for $10 billion over an edited documentary that combined two separate portions of a speech he delivered in 2021, before the January 6 Capitol riot. The broadcaster has apologised for the edit but denies that it amounted to defamation.

The case is currently in the discovery phase, during which both sides are required to exchange relevant evidence.

Last month, a US judge ordered Trump to answer questions under oath by December 11 or risk having the lawsuit dismissed. Trump had failed to appear for a scheduled deposition on October 16, citing matters of national importance.

Trump's legal team has until November 23 to submit the remaining documents.

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