Hunter Biden Drops Lawsuit Against Fox News Over Explicit Images in Mock Trial Miniseries
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, has withdrawn his lawsuit against Fox News that accused the network of using sexually explicit images of him without his consent. The lawsuit, filed in late June, was in response to Fox Nation’s 2022 miniseries “The Trial of Hunter Biden,” which featured a dramatized “mock trial” of Hunter Biden involving his overseas financial dealings and alleged illegal activities.
Biden’s legal team filed a voluntary dismissal notice in federal court in New York City on Sunday, the same day President Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. The lawsuit was dropped without prejudice, meaning it can be refiled in the future. The timing of the dismissal has led to speculation about whether it is connected to President Biden’s announcement, although no official explanation has been given.
The miniseries in question, which aired on Fox Nation in October 2022, included explicit images of Hunter Biden allegedly taken from a laptop he left at a Delaware repair shop. These images showed Biden in compromising situations, including nude and engaged in sex acts. Hunter Biden’s lawsuit claimed that the dissemination of these intimate images without his consent violated New York’s revenge porn law, which prohibits the distribution of sexually explicit images without the subject’s permission.
Fox News had initially removed the miniseries from its platform in April 2024 after receiving a demand letter from Biden’s attorneys. Despite this, Biden proceeded with the lawsuit on June 30, arguing that the series caused him severe emotional distress and damaged his personal and professional reputation. In response, Fox News described the lawsuit as “entirely politically motivated” and “devoid of merit,” asserting their First Amendment rights to cover newsworthy events.
While Hunter Biden has dropped this particular lawsuit, he continues to face significant legal challenges. He is set to stand trial for federal tax evasion in September and was convicted earlier this year on three federal gun felonies. Despite these legal battles, Biden has not been charged in connection with the bribery and foreign lobbying allegations central to Fox’s miniseries.
In a statement released on Sunday, Hunter Biden expressed his admiration for his father following President Biden’s decision to step down from the 2024 race. “I’m so lucky every night I get to tell him I love him, and to thank him,” Biden wrote. “I ask all Americans to join me tonight in doing the same. Thank you, Mr. President. I love you, Dad.”
This development also coincides with another legal victory for Fox News. On Monday, a Delaware state judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Nina Jankowicz, a former Department of Homeland Security official. Jankowicz had claimed that Fox’s coverage of her work amounted to defamation, but the court ruled that her claims did not meet the legal standards for defamation.
Fox News continues to face other significant legal battles, including a multi-billion dollar lawsuit from another voting tech company following their 2020 election coverage. Despite these challenges, Fox remains steadfast in defending its coverage and upholding its First Amendment rights.