Hunter Biden has requested the dismissal of his lawsuit against former Trump White House aide Garrett Ziegler, citing severe financial difficulties. Biden claims to be “millions of dollars in debt” due to declining sales of his artwork and memoir, as well as the loss of his Los Angeles rental home in recent wildfires.
In the court filing, Biden’s attorneys argued that his financial situation has worsened significantly, stating that he has only sold one piece of art since December 2023. Additionally, sales of his memoir, Beautiful Things, have dropped substantially, leaving him unable to afford ongoing litigation. The filing further noted that Biden no longer has access to certain financial support networks, exacerbating his economic struggles.
“Given the positive feedback and reviews of my artwork and memoir, I was expecting to obtain paid speaking engagements and paid appearances, but that has not happened,” Biden explained.
Ziegler, who is accused of illegally accessing and disseminating data from Biden’s laptop, is opposing the dismissal, calling it an attempt to manipulate the legal process. His legal team is pushing for the case to proceed and is seeking attorney’s fees, damages for defamation, and a ruling to prevent Biden from refiling the lawsuit in the future. Ziegler’s attorneys argue that allowing Biden to drop the case without consequences would set a dangerous precedent, allowing high-profile plaintiffs to use legal threats without accountability.
The case stems from Biden’s claims that Ziegler improperly obtained and released personal data from his infamous laptop, which became a central focus during the 2020 presidential election. While Biden initially denied the laptop’s authenticity, he later admitted it “could be” his. The laptop’s contents have been widely scrutinized for their revelations about Biden’s foreign business dealings and alleged illicit activities.
A judge is expected to rule on the dismissal request in the coming weeks. If the case moves forward, it could provide further legal scrutiny into the laptop’s origins and contents.
