Judge lets Trump defamation case against BBC proceed, dismisses one claim

A federal judge in Florida has allowed President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation case against the BBC to proceed, while dismissing one of the claims in the lawsuit.

Ruling on the case

Judge Jeffrey Kuntz ruled on Tuesday that Trump's defamation claim could go forward, though he did not rule on the merits. The judge dismissed a Trump claim that the BBC's actions violated a Florida law concerning unfair business practices.

Trump filed the lawsuit against the BBC in December. The Republican president accused the BBC of defamation as well as deceptive and unfair trade practices related to a documentary, "Trump: A Second Chance?"

BBC response and background

The BBC acknowledged that filmmakers spliced together quotes from different sections of the speech Trump delivered to his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, before the storming of the U.S. Capitol, to make it seem that Trump was directly urging violence. The broadcaster apologized over the editing, and the judge made note of that in his ruling Wednesday. The head of the BBC and its top news executive both resigned. The BBC has denied Trump's claims that it defamed him.

Deposition and reaction

In October, a different judge in Florida ordered Trump to sit for a deposition in the case by Dec. 11. Lawyers for the BBC had complained that Trump was delaying his appearance in his own lawsuit. Charles Tobin, an attorney for the BBC, said that with two months left in the discovery period, "we still haven't been able to depose the plaintiff." The deposition deadline could yet be extended.

Trump called Kuntz's latest ruling a major victory.

"A Huge Victory against Fake News BBC, a terrible abuser of the truth, just handed down by highly respected District Court Judge, Jeffrey T. Kuntz, of the Southern District of Florida," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

"We will continue fighting against, and defeating, all of those who try to deceive the American People!" Trump wrote Tuesday evening.

Why it matters

The ruling keeps a high-profile defamation lawsuit involving a sitting president and a major international broadcaster active, while narrowing the legal claims that can proceed.

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Sources

• abcnews.com: Judge allows Trump defamation case against BBC to proceed but tosses 1 claim - ABC News
• ottumwacourier.com: Judge allows Trump defamation case against BBC to proceed but tosses 1 claim | National News | ottumwacourier.com

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.