Hunter Biden has asked a federal judge to dismiss his lawsuit against former Trump aide Garrett Ziegler, citing financial struggles that he claims have left him unable to continue the legal fight. In a court filing, Biden’s attorneys revealed that he is “millions of dollars” in debt, largely due to declining sales of his artwork and memoir, Beautiful Things. His financial situation worsened after the January wildfires in Pacific Palisades, which allegedly left his rental home unlivable.
Biden initially sued Ziegler in 2023, accusing him of illegally accessing and distributing data from his infamous laptop on the right-wing website Marco Polo. The lawsuit claimed that Ziegler and others had violated computer fraud and data protection laws by publishing thousands of emails, photos, and videos. However, Biden now says he must “allocate his limited resources” and can no longer afford to pursue the case.
According to the filing, Biden’s art sales have plummeted, with only one piece selling for $36,000 since December 2023—far less than his earlier works, which averaged over $54,000 each. His book sales have also declined, dropping from over 3,000 copies sold in six months to just 1,100 in the following period. Biden expressed disappointment that he has not received paid speaking engagements or other opportunities despite positive reviews of his work.
This case is just one of several legal battles Biden faces, including a lawsuit involving the Delaware computer repair shop owner who first obtained the laptop. While his request to drop the case suggests a financial crisis, it remains unclear whether he will continue pursuing other lawsuits related to the laptop scandal.
