 "How Hunter Biden is threatening to sue Fox News for ‘revenge porn’")
Hunter Biden, son of United States President Joe Biden, is preparing to take legal action against Fox News, alleging defamation, exploitation, and dissemination of false information. Lawyers representing Biden have issued a letter to Fox News, signaling an imminent lawsuit.
A letter dated 23 April, obtained by US media outlets, serves as a formal notice to Fox News Channel and Fox News Digital regarding potential litigation. The letter accuses the network of engaging in a conspiracy to defame Hunter Biden and unlawfully exploit his image, among other claims. Attorney Mark Geragos and his firm have been enlisted to represent Biden in this legal endeavor, reported NBC news.
“We anticipate that litigation against FOX … is imminent,” the letter says.
Geragos has represented A-listers like Michael Jackson, singer Chris Brown, and actress Winona Ryder.
Why did Biden sue Fox News?
Sources familiar with Hunter Biden’s legal efforts indicate that the decision to pursue legal action against Fox News has been in the works for over a year.
The success of previous lawsuits against the network, notably the Dominion case, and ongoing legal battles, including the Smartmatic lawsuit, have provided motivation for Biden’s legal team. Recent revelations concerning the origins of bribery allegations have reinforced the perceived need for accountability.
Geragos emphasised Fox News’ extensive coverage of Hunter Biden over the past five years. He accused the network of perpetuating a conspiracy of disinformation for financial gain. Geragos stated that they plan to hold Fox News accountable for their actions.
In a statement, Geragos said: “For the last five years, Fox News has relentlessly attacked Hunter Biden and made him a caricature in order to boost ratings and for its financial gain. The recent indictment of FBI informant Smirnov has exposed the conspiracy of disinformation that has been fueled by Fox, enabled by their paid agents and monetised by the Fox enterprise. We plan on holding them accountable.”
Fox News has dedicated significant airtime to covering Hunter Biden, with over 13,000 mentions since January 2023. Biden’s legal team views this extensive coverage as pivotal to their potential case against Fox News.
What are the allegations against Fox News?
The letter sent to Fox News highlights several grievances, including the network’s promotion of unverified bribery allegations and the unauthorised use of intimate images belonging to Hunter Biden. Furthermore, it condemns Fox’s airing of a six-part series titled “The Trial of Hunter Biden,” accusing the network of manipulating facts and distorting the truth.
Marketed as a speculative portrayal of a hypothetical trial scenario wherein Biden faces charges under the Foreign Agents Registration Act or bribery allegations—charges of which Biden has not been formally accused—the letter alleges that the series deliberately distorts facts, manipulates truth, presents events out of context, and fabricates dialogue for entertainment purposes. Consequently, the letter contends that viewers are unable to distinguish between fact and fiction.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAlso Read: The many legal and personal problems of Hunter Biden
Demanding remedial action, the letter calls for the immediate removal of the series from all streaming platforms.
The letter also demands that Fox News issue editor’s notes to online articles “informing readers of the indictment” and have several prominent Fox News hosts including Sean Hannity, Maria Bartiromo and Jesse Watters “inform their viewers on air that they have been sharing a debunked allegation from a source who has been federally indicted.”
Fox News’ other legal troubles
The recent threat of litigation arises nearly a year subsequent to Fox News’ agreement to pay approximately $800 million to Dominion Voting Systems, settling defamation claims stemming from the network’s dissemination of election fraud assertions during the 2020 election. Additionally, Fox News reached a $12 million settlement with a former employee who alleged coercion to provide misleading information in connection with the Dominion case.
Presently, Fox News faces a $2.7 billion lawsuit initiated by Smartmatic, another voting system company prominently featured in Fox News coverage. Moreover, shareholders have filed suits against the company’s directors for permitting the airing of such allegations during the 2020 election coverage. In its most recent financial disclosures, Fox News disclosed its intention to contest these lawsuits while acknowledging the potential for a “material” adverse impact on the company’s business and financial standing.
Hunter Biden’s personal trials
Hunter Biden’s pursuit of legal action against Fox News coincides with his own impending criminal trials. He faces charges related to gun possession and a tax case, with trials scheduled for June and August, respectively. Despite pleading not guilty in both cases, the legal landscape for Biden remains complex.
By taking legal action against Fox News, Hunter Biden seeks to challenge the network’s narrative and hold them accountable for their alleged defamation and exploitation.
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
