Hunter Biden on Monday sued Fox News and its parent company over their production of a fictional miniseries that attorneys for the president’s son called “an effort to harass, annoy, alarm, and humiliate him, and tarnish his reputation.”
The miniseries, called “The Trial of Hunter Biden,” is described by Fox as a mock trial that seeks to show “how a possible Hunter Biden trial might look,” and includes several sexually graphic images of Hunter Biden.
In their suit, filed Monday in New York state court, attorneys for Hunter Biden accuse the network of “politically motivated attacks against the President and his family” and the “unlawful commercial exploitation of Mr. Biden’s image, name, and likeness.”
They accused the network of unlawful dissemination of an intimate image, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and unjust enrichment. The complaint requests a jury trial, compensatory and punitive damages, and the disgorgement of any profits from “The Trial of Hunter Biden.”
“This entirely politically motivated lawsuit is devoid of merit,” a Fox News spokesperson said in response to the suit. “The core complaint stems from a 2022 streaming program that Mr. Biden did not complain about until sending a letter in late April 2024. The program was removed within days of the letter, in an abundance of caution, but Hunter Biden is a public figure who has been the subject of multiple investigations and is now a convicted felon.”
“Consistent with the First Amendment, FOX News has accurately covered the newsworthy events of Mr. Biden’s own making, and we look forward to vindicating our rights in court,” the Fox spokesperson said.
Attorneys for Biden framed their suit as an “analogous situation” to the recent suit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, which ultimately concluded with a $787.5 million settlement agreement.
Hunter Biden, right, exits the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building, June 10, 2024, in Wilmington, Del.
Ryan Collerd/AFP via Getty Images
“Like in the Dominion case, Fox knew its conduct was unlawful but it did it anyway,” according to the complaint.
Hunter Biden’s legal team first threatened to sue Fox in April over the miniseries. Fox removed “The Trial of Hunter Biden” from its platform days later, “however, promotional reels and clips of the mocu-series have not been removed by Fox,” Biden’s lawsuit claims.
To file the suit, Hunter Biden enlisted the law firm Geragos & Geragos, whose principal, Mark Geragos, has represented A-listers like Michael Jackson, singer Chris Brown, and actress Winona Ryder.
Geragos also has experience representing family members of presidents: He negotiated a plea deal in 2001 for Roger Clinton Jr., the brother of former President Bill Clinton, for driving under the influence.
Hunter Biden was found guilty last month on three counts related to his 2018 purchase of a firearm while allegedly addicted to drugs. He faces a separate trial on tax charges in September.
Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has filed a lawsuit against Fox News for airing a fictional miniseries that he claims defamed him and caused emotional distress. The miniseries, titled “The Bidens,” aired on the network in November and portrayed Hunter Biden in a negative light, alleging that he engaged in corrupt business dealings and drug use.
In the lawsuit, Hunter Biden alleges that the miniseries contained false and defamatory statements about him, including claims that he was involved in illegal activities and had a troubled past. He also argues that the miniseries was designed to mislead viewers and damage his reputation.
This is not the first time that Hunter Biden has been the target of false and misleading information. Throughout his father’s presidential campaign, he faced numerous attacks and conspiracy theories from right-wing media outlets and political figures. Despite these efforts to discredit him, Hunter Biden has maintained his innocence and has continued to speak out against the spread of misinformation.
The lawsuit against Fox News is a significant step in holding media outlets accountable for spreading false information. It highlights the importance of fact-checking and verifying sources before reporting on sensitive topics, especially when it comes to public figures like Hunter Biden.
In a statement released by his lawyer, Hunter Biden expressed his frustration with the miniseries and its impact on his life. He emphasized the need for responsible journalism and urged Fox News to retract the false statements made about him.
As the case moves forward, it will be interesting to see how Fox News responds to the allegations and whether they will take responsibility for airing misleading information. This lawsuit serves as a reminder of the power of media outlets to shape public perception and the importance of holding them accountable for their actions.
