Hunter Biden’s former business partner is suing liberal Fox News Channel commentator Jessica Tarlov over false remarks she made last week on “The Five.”
Tony Bobulinski filed a defamation case against Ms. Tarlov centers around her claim that Mr. Bobulinski was having his legal fees paid for by a Trump Super PAC.
That wasn’t true and Mr. Bobulinski’s lawyers demanded an on-air retraction and apology. Ms. Tarlov later stated what she called an effort to “clarify” her earlier remarks, but did not apologize.
In a newly filed complaint reported Thursday by PJ Media, Mr. Bobulinski and his attorney Stefan Passantino “seek to hold Defendant accountable for her malicious and knowing lies.”
The lawsuit seeks a total of $30 million in damages.
Fox News is not named in the lawsuit, PJ Media reported, but is standing by Ms. Tarlov.
The fracas began during a March 20 segment on “The Five” about President Biden’s ties to his son’s foreign business dealings, in which Ms. Tarlov called Mr. Bobulinski’s testimony about the president non-credible.
“Tony Bobulinski’s lawyers’ fees have been paid by a Trump Super PAC that’s as recent as January,” she said.
On a later show, after complaints, Ms. Tarlov issued a statement on air.
“I would like to clarify a comment I made yesterday during our discussion of Tony Bobulinski’s appearance at the congressional hearing.
During an exchange with my colleagues about the hearing, I said that Mr. Bobulinski’s lawyer’s fees have been paid for by a Trump Super PAC as recently as January. What was actually said at the hearing was that the law firm representing Mr. Bobulinski was paid by a Trump PAC. I have seen no indication that those payments were made in connection to Mr. Bobulinski’s legal fees, and he denies that they were. All right,” she said.
Not good enough, the Bobuliski legal team’s lawsuit states, on several grounds.
“Specifically, Ms. Tarlov petulantly made it a point during the March 21, 2024, show to later state that her failed retraction attempt was a ’clarification,’ not an apology,” the lawsuit reads.
Mr. Bobuliski’s lawsuit also took issue with the clarification.
“Furthermore, by saying, ’What was actually said at the hearing,’ Ms. Tarlov left the wrong impression with the show’s viewers, which was intentional. Specifically, she intended to convey the belief that it was a matter of determined fact resulting from the hearing, not merely part of a theatrical and nonsensical performance by a democrat representative,” the lawsuit states.
The false remarks, the lawsuit states, were intentional and designed to inflame her viewers and cause them “to disbelieve Mr. Bobulinski’s sworn testimony.”
In a statement to PJ Media, Fox News said Ms. Tarlov’s second-day walkback was legally and professionally sufficient.
“Jessica Tarlov’s March 21st statements were accurate and made clear that she was not aware of anything to indicate that payments from a Trump PAC to Elections, LLC were made in connection with Tony Bobulinski’s legal fees. We stand by our decision to not issue any further corrections and will vigorously defend against these inaccurate claims,” Fox News stated.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
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