Hunter Biden won an $18,000 verdict in a lawsuit against a former Trump aide over the laptop scandal—what’s next?
At a Glance
- Hunter Biden wins $18,000 in legal fees in lawsuit against former Trump aide Garrett Ziegler.
- Ziegler allegedly accessed and circulated laptop contents unlawfully on his website.
- Judge ordered Ziegler to pay Biden for legal costs.
- Hunter Biden recently pleaded guilty in unrelated $1.4 million tax evasion case.
- The lawsuit claims violations of computer fraud and data laws.
Hunter Biden Secures Legal Fees in the Laptop Scandal Lawsuit
Hunter Biden successfully won $18,000 in a lawsuit against Garrett Ziegler, a former aide of President Donald Trump. This case, heard in a Los Angeles federal court, revolves around allegations that Ziegler accessed and distributed contents from a laptop purported to belong to Biden. The contested files were published on Ziegler’s nonprofit website, Marco Polo.
Federal Judge Hernan Vera criticized Ziegler’s motion to dismiss as “totally devoid of merit,” awarding nearly $18,000 in legal costs to Biden. This verdict reflects the ongoing controversies and legal battles surrounding Hunter Biden, particularly in light of the 2020 presidential election. Ziegler’s defense cited California’s anti-SLAPP law, but Vera ruled that such laws do not apply in federal court.
"Hunter Biden won $18,000 in legal fees in his lawsuit against a former Trump White House aide for his alleged role in the first son’s infamous laptop scandal."https://t.co/jPfCm2dRlJ
— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) September 11, 2024
Legal Implications and Broader Context
Ziegler was an aide to Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro from February 2019 to January 2021. The lawsuit claims that Ziegler’s unauthorized access to Hunter Biden’s data violated both federal and state computer fraud and data laws. Judge Vera found Ziegler’s anti-SLAPP motion frivolous, justifying the award of legal fees to Biden. This case underscores the long-standing legal and political disputes Hunter Biden continues to face.
“This is just the beginning of Mr. Ziegler being held accountable for what he has done. As we have demonstrated, from the time he illegally accessed Mr. Biden’s personal data to his court papers trying to defend his conduct, Mr. Ziegler has violated the law.”
Ziegler has maintained that his defense was not frivolous, arguing against paying Biden’s legal expenses without seeing detailed billable hours. However, Judge Vera upheld the award, citing the reasonableness of the legal costs billed by Biden’s counsel.
Ongoing Litigations and Impacts
Hunter Biden currently faces multiple legal challenges, including a recent guilty plea in a $1.4 million tax evasion case, which could lead to up to 17 years in prison. Another separate conviction for illegal gun ownership while addicted to drugs could add 25 years to his sentence. Besides, Biden remains embroiled in litigation against John Paul Mac Isaac, the Delaware computer shop owner involved in the laptop data leak. The latest ruling is seen as a critical development in addressing these multifaceted legal issues.
Despite the verdict, the lawsuit remains active, with a hearing scheduled for November 12. Biden seeks a jury trial for further damages and an injunction to prevent Ziegler from holding or distributing his private files. Ziegler’s attorneys have not responded to requests for comment.
