Judge orders Patrick Byrne to pay Hunter Biden $1.7 million in defamation case

A U.S. judge has awarded Hunter Biden $1.7 million in damages in a defamation lawsuit against Patrick Byrne, the founder of Overstock.com. Byrne had accused Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, of participating in an alleged $800 million bribery scheme linked to Iran. The scheme supposedly involved the Democratic administration releasing frozen funds to Iran in exchange for Biden's alleged involvement. U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson ruled that Byrne's statements were not only false and malicious but "absolutely outrageous." The judge found that Byrne acted with "intentional misrepresentation" and a "conscious disregard" for Hunter Biden's rights, encouraging his social media followers to spread false information. Byrne continued his defamatory statements even after the lawsuit was filed. He was declared in default for refusing to testify and attempting to delay the case by changing lawyers. The court order, shared by Biden on X, stated, "The most plausible explanation is that the defendant lacks credibility, invents incredible and outlandish stories to capture media attention and fabricated the defamatory story in question to damage the plaintiff's reputation."

Biden, who had sought a nominal $1 in damages, expressed gratitude that the rule of law had prevailed. The judge also ordered Byrne to pay $1.7 million in punitive damages. Byrne is known for denying Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election and has been critical of the Biden family. The court's decision highlights the legal consequences for spreading unsubstantiated and damaging claims.