Subpoenas sought in Trump defamation case over 2024 film

A broadcaster asked a federal court on Friday for permission to subpoena Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner as it defends a defamation lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump. The request is part of discovery in a dispute linked to a 2024 documentary titled Trump, A Second Chance? .

In the case, the president contends the film distorted his words through deceptive editing and, through the way it was presented, incorrectly implied that he incited the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The broadcaster is seeking access to testimony and records it says could speak to key questions at the center of the claims and defenses.

Discovery bid focuses on January 6 intent and audience impression In court filings, the broadcaster argued that evidence from the three proposed witnesses could be relevant to the president’s intent on January 6, 2021 and to what a reasonable viewer would have taken away during the Capitol unrest. The filings say those issues are central because the lawsuit challenges how the documentary’s editing and presentation shaped the meaning viewers assigned to the president’s remarks.

Counsel for the broadcaster said Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner may have direct knowledge of the president’s actions that day. The filing also pointed to areas where it believes the witnesses could hold relevant information, including alleged efforts connected to former President Mike Pence and the drafting of statements that addressed the violence.

Service obstacles cited under Secret Service protocols

The motion says earlier efforts to serve the three individuals were complicated by Secret Service security protocols involving the president’s immediate family. The broadcaster is now asking the court to allow subpoenas to be issued through the discovery process rather than relying on prior service attempts.

If granted, the request would open a path for the parties to seek additional testimony and documents from people close to the president. If denied, it could narrow the discovery record available to the broadcaster as it builds its defenses.

Case built around editing claims in a 2024 documentary The litigation follows a December filing in which the president alleged the network edited and combined footage in a way that created a false implication about his role in the events of January 6, 2021. The case summary describes the core claim as an argument that editing decisions changed how audiences would understand what the president said.

The broadcaster has issued an apology related to the editing at issue. At the same time, it maintains the lawsuit lacks legal merit and says it is pursuing the discovery it considers necessary to support its defense.

Judge to weigh necessity and relevance of subpoenas

The judge must decide whether the requested testimony and records are needed for discovery in this case. Officials have not said when the court will rule.

The decision will influence how far the parties can go in seeking information from individuals close to the president. Depending on how the judge evaluates relevance and necessity, the outcome could also shape how media organizations approach discovery when defending defamation claims involving high-level political figures.