Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, has abruptly withdrawn his defamation lawsuit against Fox News.
This unexpected move came mere hours after his father, the President, declared he would not seek re-election in the 2024 presidential race.
Hunter Biden had previously accused the conservative news outlet of publishing explicit photos and videos of him without his consent, as reported by The Independent. These images were part of a six-part fictional series titled "The Trial of Hunter Biden," which the younger Biden claimed was a targeted attempt to "harass, annoy, alarm, and humiliate him, and tarnish his reputation." The lawsuit alleged that Fox News had made false claims about his business ventures, drug abuse, supposed illegal activities, and foreign investments.
The lawsuit stated, "Far from reporting on a newsworthy event, Fox sought to commercialize Mr. Bidens personality through a form of treatment distinct from the dissemination of news or information." It further claimed that the entire miniseries was fictionalized and based on a non-existent criminal case. However, the lawsuit also alleged that the series presented actual emails and "nonconsensual intimate images."
The lawsuit argued, "While using certain true information, the series intentionally manipulates the facts, distorts the truth, narrates happenings out of context, and invents dialogue intended to entertain." It added that the viewers of the series were unable to distinguish fact from fiction, causing significant damage to Hunter Biden's reputation.
These intimate images were also displayed during congressional hearings, most notably by MAGA Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. A Fox News spokesperson responded to the lawsuit at the time of its filing, stating, "This entirely politically motivated lawsuit is devoid of merit." The spokesperson further defended the network's coverage of Hunter Biden, stating, "Consistent with the First Amendment, FOX News has accurately covered the newsworthy events of Mr Bidens own making, and we look forward to vindicating our rights in court."
On the same day that President Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, Hunter Biden's legal team filed court documents to dismiss the lawsuit. The connection, if any, between these two events remains unclear.
President Biden's decision to step down as the Democratic party nominee followed weeks of internal party pressure and declining poll numbers, particularly after a lackluster debate performance last month. Now, Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the leading contender to face off against Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. While she has not yet been officially declared the presidential nominee, the Biden-Harris campaign has already updated its filings with the Federal Election Commission to designate her as the chosen candidate.
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