The British broadcaster has filed an application with the court for permission to cite key witnesses in its legal defence against a lawsuit brought by the US president. This legal move is part of a wider dispute between the BBC and the American politician, focusing on the content of a documentary about the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.
The BBC has explicitly requested court approval to quote from statements and records by Donald Trump Jr, Ivanka Trump and the former president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The aim is to gather evidence and testimony that could serve as arguments in the defence of the accuracy of the reporting on the incident.
The lawsuit brought by the president directly concerns the content of the aforementioned documentary. The BBC considers it necessary to obtain direct statements from the former president’s family members to support its version of events and refute allegations of defamation.
The use of this testimony is considered a critical step in the legal process. The BBC seeks to demonstrate that its reporting is based on verified sources, including those from the former president’s immediate family. The court’s decision on this application could significantly influence the course of the trial.
