Overview
- A federal judge in the Central District of California awarded Hunter Biden $1.7 million in punitive damages, $1 in nominal damages, and roughly $35,000 in court sanctions on Friday.
- Judge Stephen V. Wilson wrote that the evidence met the high legal standard for public-figure defamation by showing intentional misrepresentation and actual malice.
- The court entered judgment after finding Byrne repeatedly failed to follow court orders, fired his lawyers, missed hearings and otherwise delayed the case, conduct the judge described as a basis for default.
- Wilson emphasized that Byrne continued to repost and promote the false Iran-bribe allegations on social media after publication and after the lawsuit was filed.
- The ruling cited a prior Canadian judgment finding Byrne liable for similar false claims and leaves open the practical questions of enforcement, payment timing and any appeals by Byrne.