The BBC is requesting court approval to subpoena family members of President Donald Trump regarding their knowledge of his January 6, 2021, speech. This action is part of the broadcaster's defense against a $10 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Trump, which claims that a 2024 BBC documentary misrepresented his speech as endorsing violence related to the Capitol riot.
In a court filing, the BBC has asked a federal judge to permit alternative methods for serving subpoenas to Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner, asserting that all three possess relevant firsthand knowledge regarding Trump's intent and actions during the speech. The BBC's attorneys noted that Trump Jr. and Ivanka were present in the Oval Office while Trump was revising his speech and had conversations with then-Vice President Mike Pence about the certification of the 2020 election results.
The BBC's filing includes testimonies indicating that both Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump traveled to the Ellipse to witness the speech and its reception. Ivanka Trump reportedly returned to the White House to discuss Trump's reaction to the violence at the Capitol, while Trump Jr. communicated with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows during the events.
Kushner also provided testimony regarding his communications with then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy about the situation at the Capitol and his involvement in drafting a statement for Trump condemning the violence. The BBC argues that these testimonies make the three family members significant witnesses in the defamation case.
Attempts to serve subpoenas to Kushner and Ivanka Trump at their Miami residence were blocked by police, and a similar attempt for Trump Jr. at Trump Tower in New York was unsuccessful. The BBC has sought to resolve the issue without court intervention but has now requested the court to authorize alternative service methods to ensure the subpoenas are received.