WASHINGTON — Hunter Biden filed a lawsuit in federal court on Friday a laptop with his personal data that was widespread, claims that A computer mechanic violated his privacyHe participated in a conspiracy and helped others invade his privacy.
The filing by President Joe Biden’s son came in response to a $1.5 million lawsuit alleging defamation brought by handyman John Paul Mac Isaac in Delaware Superior Court against Biden, CNN, Politico and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. The case was referred to the US District Court in Delaware.
The filing marks a clear escalation in Hunter Biden’s response to revelations from the laptop that sparked investigations in Congress. Biden’s lawyers have already opened an investigation with the Justice Department how personal information was shared and published from the laptop.
Biden’s filing called Mac Isaac’s behavior “a egregious violation of Mr. Biden’s right to privacy.”
An attorney for Mac Isaac did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Here’s what we know about the laptop so far:
What happened to Hunter Biden’s laptop?
Mac Isaac said Biden turned in his laptop for repairs at his Mac Shop on April 12, 2019, and an external hard drive the next day, but never returned to pay the $85 fee or pick up the equipment.
After 90 days, Mac Isaac argued Biden gave up the laptop and he owned it. Throughout the remainder of 2019, Mac Isaac confirmed examining the files and turning the contents over to the FBI and others, including of former President Donald Trump personal attorney, Rudy Giulianiwhich released its content ahead of the 2020 election.
The files contained images of Hunter Biden using drugs, shirtless and in intimate relationships with other adults.
What does Hunter Biden claim?
Hunter Biden argued in his lawsuit Friday that Delaware law gave him one year to claim the laptop, not 90 days. He also noted that Mac Isaac said in media interviews and a book that he began examining files on the laptop “well before 90 days were up.”
Hunter Biden said he never gave Mac Isaac permission to access, review, copy or distribute data stored on the laptop.
“Mac Isaac knew, or should have known, that the data he owned and shared contained private and confidential information and content, including sensitive and private photos and videos of Mr. Biden, and that Mr. Biden had a reasonable expectation that that data be treated confidentially. and that Mac Isaac’s conduct would expose Mr. Biden’s private life in a egregious violation of Mr. Biden’s right to privacy,” the filing said.
House GOP has focused investigations on laptop
The House Oversight and Accountability Committee has focused its investigation into President Biden and his family on information from the laptop.
The The panel held a hearing on Twitter’s decision last month Temporarily suppress messages about the laptop. This week the chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., released data on payments to Hunter Biden and his business associates mentioned in emails from the laptop.
But the latest federal court filing reflects how Hunter Biden’s attorneys have begun to fight back.
Abbe Lowell, one of Biden’s attorneys, told US District Judge Maryellen Noreika that he wanted to depose Mac Isaac “as soon as possible.” Lowell also plans to depose Giuliani and others who distributed the laptop’s contents.
Last month, Hunter Biden’s attorneys sent letters questioning the Justice Department and the Delaware Attorney General to investigate who accessed, copied and distributed information from the laptop.
Lowell said the actions taken with the laptop “deserve more than a full investigation and, depending on the facts found, may warrant prosecution under various statutes.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hunter Biden Laptop: Lawsuit Alleges Computer Repairman Invaded Privacy
Source : news.yahoo.com