The BBC filed a motion Monday asking a U.S. court to dismiss President Donald Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against it, warning that the case could have a "chilling effect" on robust reporting on public figures and events.

The suit was filed in a Florida court, but the British national broadcaster argued that the court did not have jurisdiction, nor could Trump show that the BBC intended to misrepresent him.

Trump filed a lawsuit in December over the way a BBC documentary edited a speech he gave on Jan. 6, 2021. The claim seeks $5 billion in damages for defamation and a further $5 billion for unfair trade practices.

Last month a judge at the federal court for the Southern District of Florida provisionally set a trial date for February 2027.

The BBC argued that the case should be thrown out because the documentary was never aired in Florida or the U.S.

"We have therefore challenged jurisdiction of the Florida court and filed a motion to dismiss the president's claim," the corporation said in a statement.

In a 34-page document, the BBC also argued that Trump failed to "plausibly allege facts showing that defendants knowingly intended to create a false impression."

Trump's case "falls well short of the high bar of actual malice," it said.

The document further claimed that "the chilling effect is clear" when Trump is "among the most powerful and high-profile individuals in the world, on whose activities the BBC reports every day."

"Early dismissal is favoured given the powerful interest in ensuring that free speech is not unduly burdened by the necessity of defending against expensive yet groundless litigation, which would constrict the breathing space needed to ensure robust reporting on public figures and... Read More