Hunter Biden drops lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani over laptop data

Hunter Biden agreed to drop his civil lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani, the former New York Mayor’s attorney and others over the release Biden’s digital data. This was revealed in a court filing on Thursday.

The big picture: According to the lawsuit, Giuliani broke federal law when he accessed and distributed Hunter Biden’s data on a laptop that belonged him. The embarrassing revelations in the data dump fuelled a wave Republican attacks, and also played a part in the legal problems of the president’s child.

In Biden’s recent federal criminal trial, the laptop and information on it was used as evidence. The jury found him guilty on three counts of felony gun offenses. The date of sentencing has yet to be set.

These data could also be used in Biden’s upcoming California trial for federal tax charges.

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Zoom out: According to the filing, Giuliani, Biden and Robert Costello, his attorney, have agreed to drop their lawsuit without prejudice, and that each party will pay its own legal fees.

Biden originally requested $75,000 as damages, plus legal costs.

The headlines: Good news for Giuliani who cannot afford to pay additional legal fees.

He filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the last quarter of the year due to mounting legal costs, unpaid taxes and potential liabilities arising from other lawsuits.

Axios contacted Biden’s attorneys for comment, but they did not respond immediately.