BBC asks US court to throw out Trump’s $10bn lawsuit and avoid ‘chilling effect’

Corporation's lawyers argue expensive but groundless' litigation restricts ability to cover public figures

The BBC has asked a US court to throw out Donald Trump's $10bn (7.5bn) lawsuit over the way a documentary edited one of his speeches, warning that proceeding with the case would have a chilling effect" on its reporting on the president.

In papers filed to the Florida court dealing with the case, the BBC's US lawyers claimed Trump's reputation had not been damaged by the documentary, given it aired in the UK a week before his re-election.