BBC Tells a Court the Secret Service Is Blocking It From Subpoenaing Ivanka Trump, Don Jr. and Kushner

The BBC asked a federal court on Friday, Aug. 14 for permission to serve subpoenas by alternative means on Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner in the president's $10 billion defamation suit over a 2024 "Panorama" documentary that edited his Jan. 6 speech. The broadcaster said officers barred it from serving Kushner and Ivanka Trump at their Florida home and directed it to the Secret Service, and that it was blocked from serving Trump Jr. at Trump Tower. The Secret Service told the BBC it "is not authorized to accept service of these subpoenas for these individuals." The BBC says the three have personal knowledge of the president's intent behind the speech. Trump's lawyers oppose the request.

The president brought the suit himself, and the testimony sought goes to an element he must prove. A taxpayer-funded federal protective detail operating as a practical barrier to civil process in the president's own litigation raises a question about whether government resources are shielding private parties from discovery.

The court has not ruled, and no deposition dates are set. Trump recently narrowed the complaint to his personal reputation, dropping business-harm claims after the BBC sought his financial records.