BBC chairman Samir Shah says Donald Trump has “no basis for a defamation case” over edited Panorama speech, vowing to fight any lawsuit.
LONDON: BBC chairman Samir Shah has reassured staff that US President Donald Trump has “no basis for a defamation case” over the editing of his speech for the Panorama programme.
“We are determined to fight this,” Shah told BBC employees in a note seen by the PA news agency.
Trump has said he will still sue the corporation despite its apology over the editing of a speech made ahead of the attack on the US Capitol.
The BBC said the edit of Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech gave the “mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action.”
The broadcaster apologised and called the speech splicing an “error of judgment” but refused to pay financial compensation.
Trump’s lawyers had threatened to sue for US$1 billion in damages unless a retraction and apology were published.
Shah emphasised the need to protect licence fee payers amid speculation about potential legal costs or settlements.
“I want to be very clear with you – our position has not changed,” he told staff.
In a GB News interview broadcast on Saturday, Trump said he had an “obligation” to sue the BBC.
“This was so egregious. If you don’t do it, you don’t stop it from happening again with other people,” he added.
Trump said the lawsuit would likely be filed “someplace in the US.”
The Panorama scandal prompted the resignations of two senior BBC executives: director-general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness.
The BBC will not air the Panorama episode “Trump: A Second Chance?” again and published a retraction on the show’s web page.
Separately, the corporation apologised for using the incorrect title for the Princess of Wales during Armistice Day coverage.
“We mistakenly referred to Catherine, Princess of Wales as Kate Middleton,” a statement said. – Bernama-PA Media/dpa
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