The request comes after a series of legal back-and-forths. Ziegler had previously tried to get the case dismissed, but that attempt was denied. The court even ordered him to reimburse Biden approximately $18,000 in legal fees. Ziegler, however, called the lawsuit “frivolous” from the start.
Biden’s financial records now reflect a stark reversal from earlier years. Once supported by proceeds from his memoir and art sales, his income has sharply declined. Previously, he sold 27 pieces of artwork for an average of $54,500 each. Since the lawsuit began, he has sold just one, for $36,000. Book sales have also dipped—from 3,100 copies between April and September 2023 to only about 1,100 copies in the following six months.
Hopes of generating revenue through speaking engagements also failed to materialize, and an effort to launch a legal defense fund struggled to gain support.
Adding to the pressure is Biden’s separate legal history. Last year, he pleaded guilty to federal tax charges and was later convicted on gun-related offenses. He was awaiting sentencing when President Joe Biden issued a pardon.
Neither Biden’s legal team nor Ziegler’s attorneys responded to requests for comment regarding the new court filing.
For now, the motion to dismiss marks a significant shift in the trajectory of a case that once drew national headlines. It also reflects the broader toll of years of public scrutiny, legal battles, and financial instability that continue to shape Hunter Biden’s life in the public eye.