Donald Trump\u2019s legal team has rejected a request by the BBC to hand over financial information as part of his $10bn defamation case against the broadcaster.<\/p>\n
The US president\u2019s lawyers accused the BBC<\/a> of a \u201cfishing expedition\u201d, according to court filings, after the broadcaster\u2019s representatives asked for details to get evidence on Trump\u2019s claims he suffered reputational and financial damage because of a Panorama documentary centred on the US Capitol riots.<\/p>\n Trump accused the BBC of \u201cintentionally, maliciously, and deceptively doctoring\u201d a speech he gave on 6 January 2021 before the unrest in Washington in which thousands marched on, and broke into, the US Congress.<\/p>\n The BBC had spliced together two parts of a speech made by Trump as part of its documentary broadcast in October 2024.<\/p>\n Four people died on the day, and five police officers died afterwards, including from suicide.<\/p>\n According to the court documents lodged in Miami, Florida, in May<\/a>, the BBC had asked for financial papers on the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, which holds the president\u2019s business interests and assets.<\/p>\n Lawyers had asked for records that would show its income, assets and properties held. It also listed hundreds of companies that fall under the trust\u2019s remit.<\/p>\n In response, Trump\u2019s Florida-based lawyers Brito PLLC said the request was \u201cdisproportionate\u201d and \u201cencompasses individuals and entities that have no connection to the issues in dispute\u201d.<\/p>\n They added it amounted to \u201ctens of thousands of documents\u201d within 30 days, adding the timeframe was \u201cunreasonable \u2026 and improper\u201d.<\/p>\n It accused the BBC of a \u201ctextbook fishing expedition\u201d.<\/p>\n Filings in May showed Trump\u2019s legal team had made 503 requests for documents, and the BBC had turned over 45,000 pages in return. Trump had produced none.<\/p>\n A clip in the documentary suggested Trump told the crowd: \u201cWe\u2019re going to walk down to the Capitol and I\u2019ll be there with you, and we fight. We fight like hell.\u201d<\/p>\n However, the words were taken from separate parts of his speech almost an hour apart. The BBC later retracted it and apologised, saying it would not be shown again<\/a>.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s lawyers have previously argued the documentary caused \u201cdirect harm\u201d to his \u201cbrand, properties and business\u201d.<\/p>\n