Hunter Biden Scores $1.7 Million in Defamation Victory Over Iran Bribe Lies

A federal judge has delivered a brutal blow to Patrick Byrne, ruling that he made false statements about Hunter Biden's alleged involvement in an Iranian bribery scheme. The court awarded Biden $1.7 million in punitive damages.

Byrne, the former CEO of Overstock.com and a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, claimed in various interviews that Biden sought a bribe from Iran's government in 2021. This led to Biden filing a defamation lawsuit against Byrne in 2023, accusing him of spreading lies.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson of the Central District of California found that Byrne acted with “intentional misrepresentation” and “conscious disregard” for Biden’s rights in the July 10 judgment.

In addition to the $1.7 million, Biden received $1 in nominal damages, while Byrne was hit with nearly $35,000 in court sanctions. Biden's lawsuit alleged that Byrne “made, published, and repeated false and defamatory statements knowing full well that the statements are false, for the purpose of subjecting plaintiff to harassment, intimidation, and harm.”

The case revolved around Byrne's claims that Biden offered Iran a deal involving his father, then-President Joe Biden, to “unfreeze” $8 billion in assets and ensure leniency during nuclear negotiations in exchange for an $800 million bribe.

Judge Wilson noted that Byrne disputed making those statements with “actual malice,” claiming he believed them to be true based on information from an Iranian official. However, the judge pointed out that Byrne failed to provide any evidence to back up his claims throughout the litigation.

Wilson stated that there was “ample evidence” indicating Byrne knew his story was false and that much of the narrative regarding a covert meeting with an Iranian official was fabricated.

A jury trial was set to begin in October, but Wilson reported that Byrne “failed to appear” and dismissed his lead trial attorney, causing delays detrimental to both Biden and the court.

Due to his absence, the judge found Byrne in default as a sanction for what he described as “repeated, intentional disobedience of court orders and unceasing efforts to delay proceedings.”

Wilson concluded that “the evidence is clear and convincing that defendant has engaged in intentional misrepresentation with conscious disregard towards plaintiff’s rights.”

Biden's attorney, Bryan Sullivan, hailed the ruling as a “complete vindication” for his client against serious accusations.

“This is a complete vindication for Hunter Biden against the false statements made about him by Patrick Byrne,” Sullivan stated. He emphasized that Byrne had no basis for claiming Hunter's involvement with Iran.

Sullivan further criticized Byrne for using a national platform to accuse Hunter of treason and linking him to a terrorist attack that killed over a thousand people. He noted that a Reagan-appointed federal judge found all of Byrne's claims fabricated and deemed him not credible.

The attorney warned that the damages awarded are just the beginning of potential consequences if Byrne repeats similar accusations. “The judgment is $1.7 million in punitive damages, and it is the floor, not the ceiling, of what Mr. Byrne owes for his conduct,” Sullivan said. “If Mr. Byrne chooses to repeat any of it, we will be back in Court.”

Hunter Biden also made a bizarre claim regarding Donald Trump's height and weight.