Trump’s Family Faces Scrutiny in BBC Defamation Suit Despite Attempts to Hide Financial Records
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Legal experts say Donald Trump’s relatives could still be compelled to testify in his $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC, even as the former president tries to shield his business dealings from public view.
A U.S. district judge has temporarily paused an order demanding Donald Trump hand over financial records from his family trust, as the court considers a narrowed complaint in his staggering $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC. The suit, sparked by a documentary edit of Trump’s inflammatory January 6, 2021, speech, accuses the BBC of defamation and unfair trade practices—a familiar tactic used by Trump to silence critical media voices.
Media and First Amendment attorney Deanna Shullman pointed out that Trump’s family members, who may hold crucial information, could be “fair game” for discovery, including depositions and requests for correspondence with the ex-president. Law professor Howard Wasserman noted that relatives may be treated as non-party witnesses if they possess knowledge relevant to the case, highlighting how Trump’s inner circle cannot simply evade accountability.
Trump’s legal team claims the BBC’s subpoena is overly broad, seeking the trust’s “entire financial universe”—a move that echoes Trump’s long history of obscuring his finances. They argue that an amended complaint, focused only on reputational harm, would make the financial records irrelevant. Judge Roy Altman granted a temporary pause on the production of these records while reviewing the amendment, but did not overturn the earlier order for a narrower set of documents.
The BBC, which has already apologized for the edit, firmly denies defamation and is seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed. The White House, perhaps wary of Trump’s legal theatrics, declined to comment.