Hunter Biden has withdrawn his lawsuit against Fox News for publishing nude photos and videos of him in a fictionalized “mock trial” show that focused on his foreign dealings. According to a court filing by his lawyers on Sunday, the suit was voluntarily dismissed without a stated reason.
ABC News reported that Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, dropped the lawsuit with the intention of refiling it against new defendants, citing a source familiar with his legal strategy. A spokesperson for Fox News Media reiterated previous comments to news website Axios, describing the lawsuit as “politically motivated” and “devoid of merit.”
Neither Hunter Biden’s lawyers nor Fox News representatives responded immediately to requests for comment.
Fox News aired “The Trial of Hunter Biden: A Mock Trial for the American People” on its Fox Nation streaming platform in October 2022. The series depicted a fictional trial of Hunter Biden on charges of illegal foreign lobbying and bribery—crimes for which he has not been indicted. The show included explicit photos and videos of Biden, which were later removed in April under threat of a lawsuit by his attorneys. Hunter Biden officially filed the lawsuit earlier this month.
The dismissal of the suit coincides with President Joe Biden’s announcement of his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, a decision made under pressure from fellow Democrats.