Fox News Channel co-host Jessica Tarlov is in legal trouble following allegations of defamatory remarks made against Tony Bobulinski, a key figure in the ongoing congressional investigation into Joe Biden. On Wednesday, Tarlov, a prominent liberal voice on the network’s “The Five,” falsely claimed that Bobulinski’s legal expenses were covered by a pro-Trump Super PAC.
Bobulinski, who appeared before Congress to provide testimony that many have deemed damaging to Joe Biden, has vehemently denied Tarlov’s assertions, insisting that he has personally funded his legal battles since 2020, to the tune of over $500,000.
“Tony Bobulinski’s lawyers fees have been paid by a Trump super PAC,” Tarlov said on Wednesday. “That’s as recent as January. Do you think that a guy who’s invested in how much better off he wants the United States to be and really getting to the bottom of this would be taking money from the guy who extorted the Ukrainians to get dirt on the Bidens?”
WATCH:
The controversy reached a boiling point when attorneys for Bobulinski demanded a public retraction and apology from Tarlov, specifying that such an apology should occur at the beginning of “The Five” and include an explicit acknowledgment of the falsehood of her previous statements.
On Thursday, Tarlov said on air, “I would like to clarify a comment I made yesterday during our discussion of Tony Bobulinski’s appearance at the congressional hearing. During an exchange with my colleagues about the hearing, I said that Mr. Bobulinski’s lawyer’s fees have been paid for by a Trump Super PAC as recently as January.”
She finished, “What was actually said at the hearing was that the law firm representing Mr. Bobulinski was paid by a Trump PAC. I have seen no indication that those payments were made in connection to Mr. Bobulinski’s legal fees, and he denies that they were.”
According to the letter sent, Tarlov’s comments were not only incorrect but also defamatory, causing unwarranted harm to Bobulinski’s reputation. The attorneys asserted that the mere “clarification” offered by Tarlov the following day did little to rectify the situation, accusing her of a lackadaisical approach to the serious implications of her claims.
“This half-hearted response and cavalier attitude is simply unacceptable and Ms. Tarlov was aware at the time she made them that these false statements invoking President Trump would inflame a segment of the country against Mr. Bobulinski and Mr. Passantino and would falsely cause her viewers to disbelieve Mr. Bobulinski’s sworn testimony,” the letter wrote.
The letter further criticized Tarlov’s attitude and the potential impact of her statements on the public’s perception of Bobulinski, in light of his testimony regarding President Joe Biden and his family’s business dealings. The demand for retraction and apology was presented as a non-negotiable requirement to mitigate the damage caused according to Bobulinski’s legal team.
“Had you agreed to be professionals about this yesterday, you would not be having an uncomfortable afternoon today. Make no mistake and let there be no confusion about what you are required to do,” the letter finished.
“Failure to comply at the top of The Five o’clock hour today, exactly as we have outlined here, our next communication on this matter will be service of a Summons and Complaint against Fox, and Ms. Tarlov, next week.
