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, adding: “We are determined to fight this.”
Advertisement
The president has said he will still sue the corporation despite an apology over the editing of a speech made ahead of the attack on the US Capitol.
The BBC said the edit of Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021, had given the “mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action”.
The broadcaster apologised and said the splicing of the speech was an “error of judgment” but refused to pay financial compensation after the US president’s lawyers threatened to sue for US$1 billion in damages unless a retraction and apology were published.
In a note to staff seen by the PA news agency, Shah said: “There is a lot being written, said and speculated upon about the possibility of legal action, including potential costs or settlements.
Advertisement
“In all this we are, of course, acutely aware of the privilege of our funding and the need to protect our licence fee payers, the British public.
“I want to be very clear with you – our position has not changed. There is no basis for a defamation case and we are determined to fight this.