In an intriguing turn of events, Hunter Biden is preparing for an extensive psychological evaluation next month that could last up to seven hours.
This assessment is part of his ongoing defamation lawsuit against Patrick Byrne, the former CEO of Overstock.
Lawsuit Background
The evaluation was confirmed in a joint filing with Byrne’s legal team on September 17, where Hunter agreed to undergo various psychological tests.
The aim is to determine if he has suffered emotional harm due to Byrne’s accusations of corruption against him.
Hunter, who is 54 years old, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles last year, alleging that Byrne falsely claimed he solicited a bribe from Iran.
Byrne had posted to his social media followers on X, asserting that Hunter had approached the Iranian government with an offer to “unfreeze” $8 billion of their assets in exchange for an $800 million bribe.
Hunter’s complaint, filed in November 2023, described these statements as not only false and malicious but completely outrageous, characterizing the allegations as “total nonsense.”
Accusations and Counterclaims
Byrne is known for his support of Donald Trump and has previously promoted conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election and the Covid-19 vaccines.
Hunter’s legal team noted that rather than retracting his allegations when informed they were untrue, Byrne doubled down, reiterating his claims.
In the same September filing, Hunter stated he was seeking damages for emotional distress related to his defamation claim and agreed to the psychological examination as part of the process to substantiate this claim.
Details of the Examination
The mental health assessment is scheduled for October 11 and will be conducted by Dr. Nathan Lavid in Long Beach, California.
According to the legal notice, Hunter will be examined alone, without any companions, and the evaluation will consist of a face-to-face interview along with various psychological tests.
Dr. Lavid is expected to use diagnostic tools, which will include a clinical interview and a series of standardized written assessments to gauge Hunter’s mental state.
Hunter’s Legal Challenges
Byrne resigned from his position at Overstock in 2019 after the company’s stock price fell, partly due to his cryptic remarks about a so-called “deep state.”
In a revealing letter to investors, he also disclosed a past romantic involvement with Maria Butina, a Russian agent who was later imprisoned for illegal influence operations.
Hunter’s lawsuit against Byrne is just one of several legal battles he is currently facing.
Earlier this year, he was convicted on federal gun and tax charges.
He has also initiated a lawsuit against the IRS for allegedly mishandling his personal information, despite whistleblowers asserting that the disclosures were made through appropriate legal channels.
Additionally, Hunter is pursuing legal action against Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s former attorney, and Garrett Ziegler, a former White House staff member, for allegedly hacking into his data linked to an abandoned laptop.
Future Sentencing
As he navigates these legal challenges, Hunter could potentially face prison time in the coming months.
He is scheduled for sentencing for his gun crimes in Delaware on December 4 and for tax-related offenses in Los Angeles on December 16, where he could face up to 17 years behind bars.
Notably, his father, President Joe Biden, has publicly stated that he will not grant him a pardon or commute any potential sentences.
What lies ahead for Hunter Biden remains uncertain, as he grapples with both personal and legal ramifications.