U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the British broadcaster BBC, accusing it of defamation over edited clips of his January 6, 2021, speech. The politician is seeking $5 billion for each count, totaling $10 billion, CNN reports.
Source: Gazeta.UA
According to Trump, the BBC created a false impression that he urged his supporters to violently storm the Capitol by omitting the part where he called for peaceful protest.
In response, the BBC acknowledged the editing mistake and apologized, noting that the video could have been misinterpreted. At the same time, the company emphasized that it sees no legal grounds for the lawsuit and intends to challenge it.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. because in the UK, the statute of limitations for defamation claims is one year and has already passed. Lawyers note that for success in an American court, Trump will need to demonstrate not only defamation but also intentional or negligent actions by the BBC.
The scandal arose as part of the Panorama documentary series ahead of the 2024 presidential elections. Because of it, the BBC halted the broadcast of the film and announced the resignation of two senior officials.