Overview
- In a motion filed Friday the BBC asked a federal judge in Miami to authorize subpoenas for Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner for depositions and documents in President Trump’s $10 billion defamation suit.
- The BBC says law enforcement, building security and Secret Service protections repeatedly prevented its lawyers from serving the subpoenas in person, and the Secret Service told the BBC it is not authorized to accept service for those individuals.
- BBC lawyers argue the three family members “without question have personal knowledge” about Trump’s intent when he revised and delivered his Jan. 6 speech, citing their testimony to the House Jan. 6 Committee and Kushner’s role drafting a proposed statement.
- The filing asks the court to permit alternative service methods such as certified mail or service on the targets’ attorneys and comes as judges weigh narrower financial discovery and other procedural disputes that could affect a tentative February 2027 trial.
- The BBC has apologized for the documentary’s misleading edit but denies it defamed the president, and coverage across outlets emphasizes either the service obstacle and witness relevance or the broader discovery fight over intent, finances and timing.