Hunter Biden ‘whistleblower’ loses $30m defamation case against Fox host
The IndependentSign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A New York federal court on Tuesday dismissed a $30m defamation lawsuit from a former Hunter Biden business associate against a Fox News anchor. In March, Tony Bobulinski sued Jessica Tarlov, one of the hosts of Fox’s The Five, after she said on air that month that Bobulinski’s legal fees to retain lawyer Stefan Passantino had been “paid by a Trump Super PAC,” after Bobulinski testified as part of the House’s inquiries into the Biden family. open image in gallery Lawsuit claimed Fox News host Jessica Tarlov hadn’t done enough to retract statement on Hunter Biden critic Tuesday’s ruling found that Tarlov could dismiss the complaint and was entitled to legal fees under a novel application of New York’s anti-SLAPP statute in federal court, a law designed to fend off lawsuits aimed at burdening opponents with excessive legal costs. "FOX News is pleased with the court’s landmark decision, which not only dismissed Tony Bobulinski and Stefan Passantino’s meritless allegations against Jessica Tarlov, but also marks the first federal court decision to award attorney’s fees under New York’s anti-SLAPP statute,” Fox News said in a statement to The Independent.