Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC has entered a contentious new phase after the broadcaster asked a Florida court to compel the president to hand over records from the period surrounding the January 6 Capitol attack. The move threatens to widen what began as a dispute over a television report into a broader legal battle over Trump's actions and communications following the 2020 US presidential election. Broad Discovery Request Raises Stakes Lawyers for the BBC have requested Trump's telephone logs, calendars, schedules and diaries covering the period from November 3, 2020, to January 20, 2021. The broadcaster is also seeking details of communications relating to the "Stop the Steal" rally, including discussions before, during and after the events of January 6. The requests form part of the evidence-gathering process known as discovery. Trump Pushes Back Trump's lawsuit centres on a BBC Panorama programme that alleges misleadingly edited footage of his January 6 speech, causing viewers to believe he encouraged supporters to storm the US Capitol. His legal team argues the broadcaster is attempting to turn a defamation case into a wider examination of the Capitol riot. Trump's lawyer has told the court that the BBC is effectively trying to "put the president on trial" over January 6 rather than address the specific claims about the programme's editing. Legal Fight Set to Intensify The BBC has defended its discovery requests, arguing they are relevant to the issues raised by Trump's claims and necessary to prepare its defence. The dispute is expected to generate months of legal arguments over what evidence must be disclosed and how broadly the case should be examined. Such discovery battles are often among the most fiercely contested stages of high-profile civil litigation. Long Road to Trial The case is not expected to reach a courtroom until February 2027, leaving both sides facing an extended period of procedural hearings and evidence disputes. With billions of dollars at stake and the events of January 6 once again under legal scrutiny, the lawsuit is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched media cases involving the US president. Whether the court grants the BBC's sweeping discovery request could prove a pivotal early test in the battle ahead. BBC turns up heat on Trump over Jan 6 phone records and diaries in courtroom demand
