Hunter Biden hires new lawyer in defamation case

Hunter Biden has appointed Richard A. Harpootlian as his new attorney. This change comes as Abbe Lowell is reported to have stepped down from Biden's defamation case in Los Angeles. Harpootlian is a well-known attorney from South Carolina. He previously represented Alex Murdaugh, a former prosecutor who was convicted of murder. Now, Harpootlian will help Biden pursue a legal case against Patrick Byrne, a former CEO. Byrne has accused Biden of communicating with Iranian officials in 2021 about a bribe involving frozen funds. Biden's lawsuit claims these statements harmed his reputation and cost him financial opportunities, including sales of his art and speaking engagements. He estimates these losses at around $500,000. Biden's previous attorney, Abbe Lowell, was with him during significant legal challenges, including tax charges. Biden has since been pardoned for those charges. Meanwhile, the younger Biden is reportedly dealing with financial struggles and debt from past legal battles. Harpootlian recently lost his State Senate seat in a close election. Despite this setback, he has stated he prefers taking on challenging cases, even offering to represent Murdaugh for free. Lowell, on the other hand, is also facing a separate defamation lawsuit for $20 million from IRS whistleblowers. He has criticized Republican lawmakers for their investigation efforts on Biden, claiming they have not produced evidence supporting their claims.