In a recent development, Hunter Biden has taken legal action against Fox News and its parent corporation, alleging defamation and unauthorized publication of explicit images in a miniseries about his legal issues in 2022.
The lawsuit, filed in New York state court on Sunday, accuses Fox News of various offenses, including unjust enrichment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violation of New York civil rights laws. This move follows Hunter Biden’s earlier warning in April that he would resort to legal measures if the network did not retract and correct its statements.
The miniseries in question, titled “The Trial of Hunter Biden,” aired on the Fox Nation digital streaming platform as well as on the Fox News cable channel. It featured a fictionalized “mock trial” focusing on Hunter Biden’s international financial dealings, which had implications on his tax indictment and were also linked to a Republican-led impeachment inquiry concerning his father.
Although Fox News removed the miniseries in late April, Hunter Biden’s lawsuit claims that promotional materials for the show can still be found on some of the network’s social media pages, and episodes are circulating online.
Responding to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Fox News dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and without merit, expressing confidence in the network’s position. The spokesperson emphasized Hunter Biden’s public figure status and the network’s coverage of newsworthy events involving him, citing First Amendment protections.
In his legal complaint, Hunter Biden alleges that Fox News targeted him to harm his reputation and seek punitive damages and profits obtained from the miniseries. His lawyers contend that the miniseries was fictionalized for commercial purposes and exploited his name without consent.
Additionally, the lawsuit claims that Fox News unlawfully published intimate images of Hunter Biden without authorization, sourced from his controversial laptop data leaked during the 2020 presidential campaign.
While Hunter Biden recently faced federal gun charges leading to a conviction, he is set to stand trial for alleged tax offenses later this year. However, no charges have been filed regarding the bribery and foreign lobbying issues discussed in Fox News’ miniseries.
