Hunter Biden’s Lawsuit Against Fox News Over Explicit Images \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Hunter Biden has refiled a lawsuit against Fox News, claiming the network illegally published explicit images of him in its Fox Nation streaming series, “The Trial of Hunter Biden.” The lawsuit, initially filed and then withdrawn in July, argues that Fox violated New York’s revenge porn law. Fox has requested to move the case to federal court and dismissed the suit as meritless.
Hunter Biden’s Lawsuit Against Fox News: Quick Looks
- Allegation: Hunter Biden claims Fox illegally published intimate images in a mock trial series.
- Legal background: The lawsuit was initially filed and then dropped in July, coinciding with President Biden exiting the 2024 race.
- Fox’s response: Fox calls the renewed suit “devoid of merit” and seeks to transfer the case to federal court.
Deep Look
Hunter Biden has refiled a lawsuit against Fox News, renewing accusations that the network unlawfully published explicit images of him as part of its streaming series, “The Trial of Hunter Biden.” This legal action marks the second time Biden has taken Fox to court over the matter, following a similar lawsuit that he withdrew in July without explanation. The decision to revive the case, which now includes two additional Fox executives as named defendants, was filed on Tuesday in a state court in Manhattan.
Background of the Lawsuit
Hunter Biden’s lawsuit focuses on the use of explicit images in the Fox Nation series, a six-part program that depicted a fictional courtroom drama involving Biden. According to the complaint, Fox’s portrayal amounted to a “mock trial” in which the president’s son was shown facing charges he has never been formally accused of. The lawsuit alleges that the dissemination of intimate images without Biden’s consent violates New York’s “revenge porn” law, a statute designed to prevent the non-consensual sharing of private, explicit content.
Initially, Biden had filed the lawsuit in July 2024, but abruptly dropped it three weeks later on the same day President Joe Biden announced he would not seek re-election in 2024. The decision to pull the initial complaint left many questions unanswered, but the new filing suggests that Hunter Biden is prepared to continue pursuing legal action against the network.
New Developments in the Case
The latest iteration of the lawsuit, filed in Manhattan’s state court, is largely identical to the previous one but includes two new defendants: a current and a former executive at Fox. The lawsuit accuses these individuals, along with Fox, of playing a direct role in what Biden’s legal team describes as a blatant violation of his privacy.
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Tina Glandian, has not yet commented on the decision to refile the lawsuit, leaving it unclear why the legal action was temporarily withdrawn and then revived. Legal experts suggest that new developments or strategic considerations could have prompted the renewed push against Fox.
Fox’s Response and Request for Federal Court Transfer
Fox News has responded to the revived lawsuit by seeking to have the case moved to federal court, a common tactic that can lead to a different set of procedural rules and potentially a more favorable outcome for the defendant. In a statement issued Tuesday, Fox described the lawsuit as “once again devoid of any merit,” maintaining that Hunter Biden’s claims lack a legitimate basis.
“The core complaint stems from a 2022 streaming program that Mr. Biden did not complain about until sending a letter in late April 2024,” Fox said in the statement. “The program was removed within days of that 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.”
Legal Grounds: New York’s Revenge Porn Law
Central to Biden’s lawsuit is New York’s revenge porn law, officially known as the unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate image. Enacted in 2019, the law makes it illegal to share explicit images of a person without their consent, regardless of the context. Biden’s legal team argues that Fox’s use of such images in a dramatized portrayal was not only unauthorized but also constituted an invasion of privacy designed to harm his reputation.
Fox’s defense has pointed to the timing of Biden’s complaint, suggesting that he did not express any grievances about the series until more than a year after it first aired. According to Fox, the network took down the program shortly after receiving a letter from Biden’s representatives in April 2024, citing caution rather than an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
Broader Legal and Political Context
The lawsuit comes at a time when Hunter Biden has been a focal point of political controversy. His legal troubles, including a July 2024 conviction on three felony firearms charges related to the purchase of a revolver in 2018, have been widely covered by the media. The Fox Nation series at the heart of this lawsuit aired against a backdrop of ongoing investigations into Hunter Biden’s business dealings, tax issues, and personal conduct, making him a frequent target for conservative media outlets.
While “The Trial of Hunter Biden” depicted fictional charges, its presentation was seen by Biden’s legal team as a smear campaign designed to exploit his personal and legal challenges for entertainment value. The lawsuit aims to hold Fox accountable for what Biden describes as a willful disregard for privacy and consent.
Legal analysts have noted that the decision to refile the lawsuit could be part of a broader strategy to push back against media narratives that Biden’s team views as defamatory or misleading. Some have speculated that the inclusion of Fox executives as new defendants may be intended to draw more attention to the lawsuit and potentially leverage more aggressive legal discovery.
Hunter Biden’s Continued Legal Challenges
Hunter Biden’s re-entry into the legal battle with Fox is just one aspect of his ongoing legal issues. His July conviction for firearms charges came after he pleaded guilty to failing to disclose drug use when purchasing a revolver, an offense that carried serious legal consequences. He has also been under investigation for tax-related matters and has faced congressional scrutiny over his business dealings in Ukraine and China, which Republicans have used to criticize President Joe Biden.
With his legal troubles mounting, the renewed lawsuit against Fox could be seen as an attempt to reclaim some control over the narrative surrounding him. Despite Fox’s insistence that the claims are baseless, the case will likely attract significant media attention, especially if it proceeds to trial.
Fox’s Position on Public Figures and Media Coverage
Fox’s statement highlighted Hunter Biden’s status as a public figure, emphasizing that he has been the subject of multiple investigations and is now a convicted felon. Media companies, including Fox, have long argued that public figures are subject to a higher level of scrutiny, making it difficult to claim invasion of privacy. The network has maintained that it acted responsibly by removing the contentious series after receiving Biden’s complaint, but it continues to assert that the lawsuit lacks legal merit.
The network’s attempt to move the case to federal court could further complicate the proceedings. Federal court cases often involve more rigorous discovery processes and different standards for dismissal, which might influence how the lawsuit unfolds. Should the case proceed, it could set a precedent for how media organizations handle sensitive content related to public figures.
