A federal judge on Thursday ordered Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, the Associated Press reported, in a Reuters report carried by multiple US outlets.

Source: Reuters via KTWB (reporting AP)

US Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett ordered Trump to take questions from the BBC's lawyers under oath in a ruling from the bench at a court hearing on Thursday, according to the AP. Trump cancelled a deposition in October, citing conflicts with his presidential duties.

Trump is suing Britain's publicly funded broadcaster for at least $10 billion over a misleadingly edited clip of a speech. His lawsuit, filed in December in Florida federal court, accuses the BBC of intentionally misleading viewers into thinking he directed supporters to storm the US Capitol by splicing together different parts of a January 6, 2021 speech.

What each side says

The BBC admitted the edits were misleading and apologized to Trump, though it denies being liable for defamation, Reuters reported. In court filings, the broadcaster has accused Trump and his lawyers of dragging their feet on discovery, and it is seeking financial records from Trump's Mar-a-Lago club and associated business entities, saying the information is necessary to defend against his damages claims.

Trump's lawyers say the BBC's requests are too broad and irrelevant to the case. They have also denied in court filings that Trump is avoiding a deposition, saying Trump's duties and security needs must take precedence. Representatives for Trump's legal team and the BBC did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reuters said.