{
  "id": 1292859,
  "title": "BBC asks a US court for help in getting testimony from the Trump family in defamation suit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/bbc-asks-a-us-court-for-help-in-getting-testimony-from-the-trump",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T15:27:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/08/16/bbc-asks-a-us-court-for-help-in-getting-testimony-from-the-trump-family-in-defamation-suit"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The BBC has requested assistance from a U.S. court in obtaining documents and testimony from members of the Trump family for its $10-billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster. According to court documents, the lawsuit accuses the BBC of defamation and deceptive practices after editing a 2024 documentary featuring a speech President Trump gave on January 6, 2021, ahead of the Capitol riot. The lawsuit claims the BBC intentionally misrepresented Trump's words to influence the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The BBC has apologized for the misleading edit but maintains it did not defame Trump. The court filing states that Trump's family members, including Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Donald Trump, Jr., are in possession of relevant records and personal knowledge of the case. They were present in the Oval Office when Trump was revising the speech and spoke with him after violence erupted at the Capitol. The BBC has asked for the subpoenas to be served by email or certified mail, but Trump has refused. The court has given Trump's legal team until Friday to respond. Trump's legal team dismissed the BBC's request as an attempt to distract from their own wrongdoing, stating that the broadcaster is trying to harass Trump and his family. A trial is scheduled for February, following a recent temporary reprieve granted to Trump from an order requiring him to disclose financial information related to the lawsuit.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "BBC seeks court help to obtain Trump family testimony for $10B defamation lawsuit.",
    "Trump family members hold records and personal knowledge of case.",
    "Trump's legal team dismisses request as harassment attempt."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}