U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett has issued a formal order requiring Donald Trump to participate in a deposition by December 11. This development occurs within the ongoing defamation lawsuit brought against the former president by the BBC. The court’s decision follows a request from the network’s legal counsel, who argued that the discovery phase of the trial is nearing its conclusion without the plaintiff having been questioned.

Charles Tobin, an attorney representing the BBC, expressed frustration regarding the timeline, noting that the discovery period has only two months remaining. According to Tobin, the defense has been unable to move forward with the deposition of the plaintiff despite the approaching deadline. The court's intervention is intended to ensure that the legal process remains on schedule, compelling Trump to provide testimony before the mid-December cutoff. As of now, there has been no public statement from Trump’s legal team regarding the specific date of the deposition or any potential challenges to the judge's order.