A federal judge has mandated that Donald Trump must sit for a deposition no later than December 11 regarding his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. The lawsuit, initiated by Trump, alleges that the network broadcast a misleading edit of a speech he gave during a rally on January 6, 2021, prior to the U.S. Capitol riot.

While the core facts of the court order are consistent across reports, the outlets differ on the potential consequences of non-compliance. Axios reports the order as a requirement for Trump to answer questions under oath in a case he initiated. The Guardian provides additional context, noting that the judge’s order includes a warning that failure to cooperate with the discovery process could lead to sanctions, including the potential dismissal of the entire $10 billion lawsuit.

The legal dispute hinges on Trump’s claim that the BBC’s editing of his rally comments caused him personal damage. Although the specific broadcast was not widely available in Florida, Trump’s legal team is pursuing the case under Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The deposition serves as a key step in the discovery phase of the litigation.