Hunter Biden sues Fox News over 2022 'Mock Trial' miniseries, claims network aimed to 'tarnish his reputation'
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: First son Hunter Biden has filed a lawsuit against Fox News over its miniseries 'The Trial of Hunter Biden: A Mock Trial for the American People' that was later removed from its subscriber streaming platform, Fox Nation.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, July 1, in the Supreme Court of New York, claimed Fox News sought to harass President Joe Biden's son “to annoy, alarm, and humiliate him, and tarnish his reputation,” according to The Hill.
Hunter Biden's lawsuit alleges Fox miniseries of 'intentionally' manipulating facts
Hunter Biden's attorneys argued that the miniseries intentionally manipulated the facts to entertain viewers rather than report on a newsworthy event.
“Far from reporting on a newsworthy event, Fox sought to commercialize Mr. Biden’s personality through a form of treatment distinct from the dissemination of news or information,” read the lawsuit.
“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.
Hunter Biden's lawsuit accused Fox News of violating revenge porn law in the miniseries
The lawsuit accuses Fox News of violating New York state’s revenge porn law, which prohibits the publication of intimate images of an individual without their consent.
Additionally, Hunter sued the conservative media behemoth for unjust enrichment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The series reportedly included nude photos and videos of Hunter, engaged in sex acts, which his attorneys argue were used to further humiliate him, reported Reuters.
His attorneys initially threatened to sue Fox News in April, prompting them to remove the miniseries from Fox Nation.
At the time, the network stated, “This program was produced in and has been available since 2022."
“We are reviewing the concerns that have just been raised and — out of an abundance of caution in the interim — have taken it down," the outlet added.
Fox News' miniseries depicted a fictional trial of Hunter Biden
In October 2022, Fox streamed 'The Trial of Hunter Biden: A Mock Trial for the American People' on its streaming service Fox Nation. However, following the threat of a lawsuit by Hunter Biden's legal team, they later took down the miniseries.
It depicted a fictional trial of Hunter on charges of illegal foreign lobbying and bribery, crimes for which the 54-year-old has never been indicted.
His real legal challenges include a conviction in a federal gun case in June and a trial in September for alleged tax crimes.
