A lien lodged by the law firm Winston Taylor on Tuesday could deprive Hunter Biden of the $1.7 million defamation award he received last week, putting the judgment in jeopardy.
The award stems from a California federal court decision that ordered former Overstock chief executive Patrick Byrne to pay Biden after Byrne falsely alleged that the son of the U.S. president had taken part in an $800 million Iranian bribery scheme during Joe Biden’s administration.
Winston Taylor, previously known as Winston & Strawn, argues that Biden still owes the firm millions for legal representation in a range of civil and criminal matters, including his federal tax‑evasion and gun‑possession prosecutions. The firm claims the debt exceeds the $1.7 million judgment.
Once a high‑earning figure through lobbying, overseas board appointments and art sales to Democratic donors, Biden now describes himself as “impecunious”. Court filings show his wealth has dwindled since his father left office, eroded by legal costs, a controversial pardon for felony convictions and a lifestyle marked by substance abuse and costly spending.
The lien follows a June 2025 lawsuit filed by Winston Taylor in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia over unpaid fees. The case has stalled amid a dispute over Biden’s refusal to produce emails and encrypted messages, which his current counsel says he cannot afford to retrieve.
Despite the financial strain, Biden has remained in the public eye, recently taking a role at Peak Path Health, an addiction‑treatment centre in Los Angeles, and granting an interview to broadcaster D.J. Vlad.
During that interview he said, "I would tell him to go fuck his fucking self. This man has tried to torture me for fucking 10 years."
Other parties have also weighed in. Marco Polo, a nonprofit linked to former Trump aide Garrett Ziegler, mocked the situation on X, writing: "Humorous & gratifying that even your 'victory' ... is pyrrhic. All of the corrupt actors are now lining up at the trough."
Biden previously sued Ziegler for alleged privacy breaches but withdrew the case, citing an inability to meet the costs. The new lien adds another layer to a growing list of creditors seeking repayment.
first reported by the original wire report.