GOP Biden Impeachment Witness Sues Fox News Co-Host
Former Hunter Biden associate Tony Bobulinski filed a $30 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News host Jessica Tarlov over comments regarding his legal fees, which she corrected a day later.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Thursday, accused Tarlov of "lying" when she initially claimed last week that Bobulinski’s legal fees were paid by a Trump super PAC. Her remarks came during a segment on Fox News’s “The Five” after Bobulinski testified before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee as part of its impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
Following a letter from Bobulinski’s attorney demanding a retraction and apology, Tarlov clarified her statements on air the next day, saying: “What was actually said during the hearing was that the law firm representing Mr. Bobulinski was paid by a Trump PAC. I have seen no indication those payments were made in connection with Mr. Bobulinski’s legal fees, and he denies that they were.”
A Fox News spokesperson reiterated that Tarlov's clarification was accurate and emphasized that the host was not aware of any link between payments from a Trump PAC and Bobulinski’s legal fees.
“Jessica Tarlov’s March 21st statements were accurate and made clear that she was not aware of anything to indicate that payments from a Trump PAC to Elections, LLC were made in connection with Tony Bobulinski’s legal fees,” the spokesperson stated. “We stand by our decision to not issue any further corrections and will vigorously defend against these inaccurate claims.”
Bobulinski's lawyers argued that Tarlov's initial comment was made to "achieve media headlines and ratings," deliberately tarnishing Bobulinski's character and attempting to discredit his earlier testimony.
In response to Tarlov's clarification, Bobulinski's legal team criticized it as “half-hearted, incomplete, and unacceptable,” demanding a more comprehensive retraction and apology.
Bobulinski, who briefly collaborated with Hunter Biden on a deal that was never finalized, has become a key GOP witness, alleging connections between the president and his son’s business dealings. His lawyers are seeking $30 million in damages, alleging that Tarlov aimed to "defame and undermine" Bobulinski's character.