Hunter Biden has revived a lawsuit against Fox News accusing them of illegally publishing explicit images of him as part of a streaming series. The lawsuit was first filed in New York in July but was dropped three weeks later without explanation. However, Hunter Biden has now refiled the suit in state court in Manhattan, arguing that the dissemination of intimate images without his consent violates New York’s revenge porn law. The new suit names one current Fox executive and one former executive as defendants.
Fox News has asked for the case to be moved to federal court and has issued a statement calling the second suit “devoid of any merit.” They claim that the core complaint stems from a 2022 streaming program that Hunter Biden did not complain about until April 2024. The program in question, “The Trial of Hunter Biden,” was a fictional court proceeding on charges that Hunter Biden has not actually faced. Fox News removed the program within days of receiving a letter from Biden’s attorney but maintains that Hunter Biden is a public figure who has been the subject of multiple investigations and is now a convicted felon.
In July, Hunter Biden was convicted of three felony firearms charges related to the purchase of a revolver in 2018. The six-part Fox Nation series depicting a dramatized court proceeding with fictional charges against Hunter Biden has been at the center of the legal dispute. Biden’s attorney, Tina Glandian, has not yet commented on why the lawsuit was revived. The lawsuit alleges that Fox News violated New York’s revenge porn law by publishing explicit images of Hunter Biden without his consent.
The legal battle between Hunter Biden and Fox News underscores the ongoing tensions between public figures and media organizations over issues of privacy and defamation. Hunter Biden’s lawsuit accuses Fox News of engaging in illegal behavior by publishing intimate images of him without his permission, and seeks to hold the network accountable for what he views as a violation of his rights. Fox News, on the other hand, maintains that the lawsuit lacks merit and that they have acted within their rights as a news organization.
The lawsuit against Fox News highlights the complex legal and ethical questions surrounding the publication of intimate images without consent. Revenge porn laws vary by state and can criminalize the unauthorized distribution of private, sexually explicit images. In this case, Hunter Biden is seeking legal redress under New York’s revenge porn law, arguing that Fox News violated his rights by publishing explicit images of him in the streaming series. The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for media organizations and public figures alike.
Hunter Biden’s decision to revive the lawsuit against Fox News reflects his determination to seek justice and hold the network accountable for what he perceives as an egregious violation of his privacy rights. The legal battle between Biden and Fox News has reignited discussions about the boundaries of press freedom, the responsibilities of media organizations, and the rights of individuals to control the dissemination of their private information. As the case moves forward, it will be closely watched as a test case for how the legal system addresses issues of privacy, defamation, and the unauthorized publication of intimate images in the digital age.
