US president looks to take defamation proceedings after Panorama broadcast
Tim Davie has stepped down as director-general of the corporation in the aftermath of the probe, with his chief executive Deborah Turness also resigning last weekend .
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Mr Trump has blasted the BBC after Panorama spliced together two sections of his 2021 speech to give a misleading impression that he told supporters to “fight like hell”.
Describing his speech as "beautiful" and "very calming", Mr Trump insisted the edit had transformed its meaning to make it sound "radical".
He has said he will now try to sue the broadcaster for $1 billion (£750 million).
But how likely is this?
Will Donald Trump really sue the BBC?
Mr Trump has until next October to bring his case to a court in Florida, as his adopted home state has a statute of limitations of two years – with the Panorama broadcast being in October 2024.
He would need to make the case against bbc.com , the American-read branch, as the UK has a one year statute of limitation, meaning the ship has sailed to prosecute in a British court.
Mr Trump said he would take legal action as if there is “not a full and fair retraction of the documentary” as well as an apology and compensation.
What has the BBC said?
BBC chairman Samir Shah has apologised for an “error of judgement” and said there have been more than 500 complaints.
“We accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action,” he said.
"I am absolutely clear that the BBC must champion impartiality. It is more necessary now than ever before.”
In announcing his exit, Mr Davie admitted the BBC “did make a mistake” over Mr Trump’s speech and that “some mistakes have cost us” in a 40-minute speech to staff.
There are now several contenders for the BBC’s top role.
Homelessness minister Alison McGovern told LBC : "I think if they've made errors, I think the answer to that is better quality journalism and to invest in that journalism so that we can have the standard of programmes we all want from the BBC."
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has backed the BBC ahead of a planned charter review.
She told MPs: "There is a fundamental difference between raising serious concerns over editorial failings and members of this House launching a sustained attack on the institution itself, because the BBC is not just a broadcaster, it is a national institution that belongs to us all."
Does the BBC have £750 million?
The figure would be crippling for the BBC – which makes around £4billion every year from licence fees , meaning the figure would be a huge portion of its annual budget.
The corporation is now considering its options after receiving a letter from Mr Trump’s lawyer.
The BBC told LBC: "We are reviewing the letter and will respond directly in due course."
A British court has not ordered a defamation pay out of more than £1.5m but in the US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was ordered to pay £1.5bn to Sandy Hook victims’ families after claiming the 2012 school shooting was a hoax.
However, while bigger payouts can be achieved in America, it is harder for a complainant to win a defamation case as actual malice must be proved.
