BBC Files Subpoena to Target Trump Family in Defamation Lawsuit

In a statement to the BBC, a spokesperson for President Trump’s legal team asserted that the BBC had intentionally defamed the president and, through its subpoena request, was attempting to harass him, his family, and supporters by misusing the deposition process.

The statement added that the BBC was merely attempting to divert attention from its own clear liability.

According to the latest filing, the BBC’s lawyers contend that Trump family members possessed personal knowledge of the president’s intentions during the speech, rendering their testimony and documents pertinent to the defamation claim.

Relying on evidence compiled by a U.S. congressional committee, the filing notes that Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump were present as their father prepared and delivered the speech, and that Jared Kushner drafted a proposed statement for him that would have condemned violence.

The filing requests that the court permit service of the subpoenas via email and certified mail, noting that personal service attempts were unsuccessful.

A subpoena constitutes an order requiring a person to testify under oath or provide evidence; non‑compliance incurs penalties.

Court filings indicate that a BBC legal representative attempted to serve subpoenas to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at their Florida residence, but was denied entry at a police checkpoint and subsequently informed by the Secret Service that it could not accept the documents.

Likewise, the filing states that a representative sought to serve a subpoena to Donald Trump Jr. at Trump Tower in New York, only to be told by the concierge that the usual document recipient might have been at lunch.

In a subsequent attempt two days later, the representative was informed that the legal department was unavailable that day, per the filing.

President Trump’s legal team has been contacted for comment, while the BBC press office declined to respond.

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