A New York judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by Tony Bobulinski, a former associate of Hunter Biden, against Fox News host Jessica Tarlov over comments about his legal fees.
Bobulinski filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and alleged Tarlov “lied” when she initially claimed Bobulinski’s legal fees were paid by a Trump super PAC. The defamation suit sought $30 million in damages. (RELATED: Biden Impeachment Witness Sues Fox News Co-Host)
Lawyers for Bobulinski alleged Tarlov’s initial comment, in which she said, “OK, Tony Bobulinski’s lawyers’ fees have been paid by a Trump super PAC. That’s as recent as January,” was made to “achieve media headlines and ratings.”
The comment “deliberately besmirched” the character of Bobulinski and Passantino and was “an attempt to discredit” the businessman’s earlier testimony before the Oversight Committee, Bobulinski’s lawyers wrote in the suit.
The lawyers argued Tarlov did not make a “complete retraction and apology” during her on-air clarification, calling it “half-hearted, incomplete and unacceptable” in a second letter to the host.
Bobulinski’s attorney sent a letter requesting a retraction and apology a day later and Tarlov clarified her previous remarks on air, stating: “What was actually said during the hearing was that the law firm representing Mr. Bobulinski was paid by a Trump PAC. I have seen no indication those payments were made in connection with Mr. Bobulinski’s legal fees, and he denies that they were.”
Tarlov the next day corrected her comments on air saying, “What was actually said during the hearing was that the law firm representing Mr. Bobulinski was paid by a Trump PAC.”
“I have seen no indication those payments were made in connection with Mr. Bobulinski’s legal fees, and he denies that they were,” she added at the time.
A judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed the case Tuesday and ordered Bobulinski to pay Tarlov’s attorney fees.
“Fox News is pleased with the court’s landmark decision, which not only dismissed Tony Bobulinski and Stefan Passantino’s meritless allegations against Jessica Tarlov, but also marks the first federal court decision to award attorney’s fees under New York’s anti-SLAPP statute,” the network said in a statement.
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tarlov is despicable. she has no class, and resorts to half truths, I stopped watching the five because of her. sl