A federal judge has granted the sitting US president a delay in handing over financial records—not because of national security, not because of legitimate legal procedure, but because he is suing the BBC over a 2024 Panorama episode and would prefer to litigate his grudge first.
The defendant in this case is a documentary. A two-year-old documentary. The president of the United States is currently prioritizing a lawsuit against a British television program over the disclosure of financial records that courts have already decided should be disclosed. The judge’s decision to grant the delay is not a legal victory so much as a formal acknowledgment that yes, this is actually happening.
What exactly did Panorama do that warranted this level of presidential attention? It was controversial. It said things. The president disagrees with these things. This is apparently sufficient grounds to tie up court proceedings while a sitting chief executive settles a score with a media organization.
The timing is perfect. The nation faces inflation, geopolitical instability, and infrastructure crises. Meanwhile, the executive branch is burning judicial resources on a vendetta against a documentary that aired when most people were not paying attention. The financial records will wait. The grudge cannot.
The judge granted the delay. The records remain sealed. The BBC, presumably, is updating its insurance policy.