BBC moves to throw out $10bn Trump lawsuit over Capitol riot documentary

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has asked a United States federal court in Florida to dismiss a $10 billion lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over a documentary that featured his January 6, 2021 speech ahead of the attack on the US Capitol.

Trump filed the suit last year, accusing the BBC of manipulating footage of his speech delivered during Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. He claims the broadcaster edited together two separate portions of the address in a way that made it appear he had urged supporters to storm the Capitol.

In the lawsuit, Trump is seeking at least $5 billion in damages on each of two counts, defamation and violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act arguing that the programme damaged his reputation and political standing.

However, in papers submitted on Monday to a federal court in Miami, BBC lawyers said the court does not have the legal authority, or “personal jurisdiction,” to hear the case. They also argued that Trump has failed to show that the documentary caused him any real or measurable harm.

The filing noted that Trump’s claims of damage were framed only in broad terms, such as harm to his professional and occupational interests. It also pointed out that he went on to win the 2024 presidential election, including a comfortable 13-point victory in Florida, undermining his claim that the programme had a negative political impact.

The BBC further argued that the documentary was broadcast outside the United States and aired before the 2024 election, factors it says weaken Trump’s case and support its request for the lawsuit to be dismissed.

Trump has accused the BBC of “fabricating” the edited speech and claimed the broadcaster was trying to influence the 2024 election against him. The BBC has rejected those allegations, though its chairman, Samir Shah, sent Trump a letter of apology last year and later told a UK parliamentary committee that the organisation should have acknowledged the mistake earlier.

The controversy surrounding the documentary triggered major fallout within the BBC, leading to the resignations of director general Tim Davie and senior news executive Deborah Turness.

A BBC spokesperson said on Tuesday that the broadcaster would continue to fight the case, adding: “As we have made clear previously, we will be defending this case. We are not going to make further comment on ongoing legal proceedings.”