Tony Bobulinski, who used to work with Hunter Biden, has filed a $30 million lawsuit against Fox News host Jessica Tarlov for making false comments about his legal fees, which she corrected the next day.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming that Tarlov lied when she initially said that Bobulinski's legal fees were paid by a Trump super PAC. Her comments were made during a discussion on Fox News's 'The Five' after Bobulinski testified in the House Oversight Committee's impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
Following a letter from Bobulinski's lawyer asking for a retraction and apology a day later, Tarlov clarified her previous remarks on air, saying that the law firm representing Mr. Bobulinski was paid by a Trump PAC, but there was no indication that the payments were for his legal fees, and he denies that they were.
A spokesperson for Fox News maintained that Tarlov's clarification was accurate and confirmed that the host was not aware of any connection between payments from a Trump PAC and Bobulinski's legal fees.
Fox News defended Tarlov's statements as accurate and stated that they stand by their decision not to issue further corrections and will defend against the lawsuit.
Bobulinski and his attorney, Stefan Passantino, alleged that Tarlov's initial comment was made to get media attention and ratings.
Bobulinski's lawyers claimed that the comment deliberately damaged Bobulinski's and Passantino's reputations and was an attempt to discredit his earlier testimony before the House Oversight Committee.
Bobulinski's lawyers argued that Tarlov's on-air clarification was not a complete retraction and apology, calling it half-hearted, incomplete, and unacceptable in a second letter to the host.
Bobulinski briefly worked with Hunter Biden, and he has been a key GOP witness connecting Biden to his son's business.
Bobulinski later aligned with allies of former President Trump, and Passantino is a former White House lawyer who has represented numerous Trump aides before the House Jan. 6 committee. Law firms connected to Passantino received over $1 million from Trump-related PACs in 2022. Bobulinski's lawyers noted that Mr. Passantino was paid solely by Mr. Bobulinski for his previous representation, as well as on March 20, 2024, with no third-party payments ever being made.
Bobulinski’s lawyers are demanding $30 million in compensation, claiming that Tarlov attempted to damage and weaken his reputation.
The Hill contacted Bobulinski’s legal team for additional input.
Tony Bobulinski, a former colleague of Hunter Biden, has filed a $30 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News host Jessica Tarlov regarding her remarks about his legal expenses, which she corrected the next day. The lawsuit, submitted on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleged that Tarlov “misled” last week when she…
