The BBC is trying to subpoena members of Donald Trump’s family as part of its defence in a US defamation lawsuit related to the BBC’s “Panorama” programme. Multiple outlets report that the BBC has made a legal request to obtain testimony from Trump’s family members in connection with the claim brought by the former US president.
According to the BBC, its lawyers argue that family members “have personal knowledge” relevant to Trump’s intentions in a speech he gave outside the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. The coverage frames the dispute as focusing on what was conveyed and intended at the time of that speech, and how it relates to statements made in the Panorama programme.
Outlets also differ in emphasis, with some foregrounding the BBC’s attempt to obtain testimony and the scale of the lawsuit, including figures reported as $10bn. Overall, the accounts align that the BBC is seeking additional evidence through subpoenas to support its position in the ongoing case.
