US judge halts order requiring Trump to hand financial records to BBC in $10bn libel lawsuit
A US federal judge has temporarily halted an order requiring President Donald Trump to hand over detailed financial records from his business empire to the BBC while considering his request to narrow parts of his $10 billion libel lawsuit against the broadcaster.
US District Judge Roy Altman issued the temporary pause as Trump’s legal team sought to prevent the BBC from obtaining extensive information about hundreds of businesses held by the Trump family trust.
The original order, issued last month by a Miami-based judge, required Trump to begin providing financial documents by August 6 as part of the discovery process in the legal battle.
Trump’s lawyers argued that the BBC’s request sought a “shockingly broad amount of information based on clearly political motivations,” asking the court to suspend the order while his amended lawsuit is reviewed.
In a four-page order, Altman said Trump’s attempt to remove claims that the BBC documentary harmed his business interests could affect whether the broadcaster needs access to his financial records.
Trump’s revised lawsuit would focus primarily on alleged reputational damage rather than financial losses linked to his businesses, according to his legal team.
The BBC has argued that Trump’s business value remains relevant because his public image and reputation have played a major role in his success as a businessman and public figure.
The broadcaster’s lawyers also noted that Trump is still seeking $10 billion in damages, arguing that such a figure would be difficult to justify if the case is limited only to reputational harm.
The lawsuit centers on the BBC documentary “Trump: A Second Chance,” which included edited portions of Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech that made it appear he directly encouraged supporters who later attacked the US Capitol.
The BBC apologized for the editing but rejected Trump’s defamation allegations, maintaining that the documentary did not justify legal action.
Trump filed the lawsuit after accusing the broadcaster of damaging his reputation and business interests through the documentary, which aired in the United Kingdom before the 2024 US presidential election.
The case is part of a broader legal campaign by Trump against media organizations over coverage he considers defamatory or unfair.
In a separate lawsuit, Trump’s lawyers are seeking to proceed with a $10 billion defamation case against the Wall Street Journal over a report about a letter linked to the convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein’s 2003 birthday book.
Trump’s administration has also faced disputes with media outlets, including subpoenas issued to New York Times journalists over reporting on security concerns involving the presidential aircraft before the requests were later withdrawn.
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