This is Huge! Trump Sued BBC for $10 Billion, Then Refused to Testify. Now a Judge Threatened Sanctions.
Donald Trump wants $10 billion from the BBC, but apparently doesn't want to answer questions under oath about his own lawsuit.
On Friday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett threatened Trump with sanctions after he repeatedly failed to cooperate with the discovery process in the defamation case he initiated.
Trump canceled his October 16 deposition, citing unspecified matters of national importance. His lawyers now claim he cannot testify until January 2027, conveniently after the December 18 deadline for gathering evidence, according to Bloomberg.
The judge wasn't impressed. She noted that previous warnings about Trump's lack of cooperation had accomplished nothing and warned that further violations would result in sanctions.
The lawsuit stems from a BBC documentary that misleadingly edited Trump's January 6, 2021, speech, making it appear he directly encouraged violence at the Capitol. The BBC apologized for the editing but denies defaming Trump.
Meanwhile, BBC attorneys are seeking testimony from Trump's former advisers and Cabinet officials to examine his intentions that day.
The judge has ordered further proceedings by October 22, putting additional pressure on Trump to cooperate.
There's a delicious irony here: Trump demanded $10 billion for allegedly damaging his reputation, but now seems determined to avoid answering questions that might reveal how much damage he's done to it himself.
