Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) just got some unfortunate legal news after doggedly attacking a key Biden witness.
Raskin has been sued by Anthony Bobulinski, a decorated Navy veteran and former business associate of the Biden family. The lawsuit, filed today, accuses Raskin of making false and defamatory statements about Bobulinski, including quips branding him as a “Chinese or Russian spy” and a pawn of the Trump campaign.
The complaint, detailed in court documents, outlined a series of accusations against Raskin, claiming that the congressman has used his platform to “deliberately besmirch” Bobulinski’s character in an effort to deflect from purported misconduct by the Biden family. According to the lawsuit, these actions were taken outside the scope of Raskin’s official duties, leaving him vulnerable to personal liability.
Anthony “Tony” Bobulinski, the plaintiff in the case, has been a controversial figure in political circles following his claims regarding the Biden family’s business dealings with foreign entities, including China. Bobulinski asserted that he was introduced to Joe Biden by his son, Hunter, and that he was privy to conversations and emails that suggested the former Vice President was involved in his son’s business ventures, despite public denials.
Bobulinski’s lawsuit stems from a series of statements Raskin made on social media and in a televised interview on MSNBC. In these comments, Raskin dismissed the credibility of witnesses like Bobulinski, joking that witnesses turned out to be foreign spies. The filing includes demands for a jury trial and seeks damages totaling $20 million for alleged harm caused to Bobulinski’s reputation and mental well-being.
During a House Oversight Committee hearing in March, Bobulinski delivered scathing remarks aimed at Democrat Representatives Raskin and Dan Goldman (D-NY). The tension escalated as Bobulinski accused both congressmen of perpetuating falsehoods regarding the Biden family’s business dealings, which stirred a notable reaction from Raskin.
“They continue to lie directly to the American people without hesitation and remorse,” Bobulinski said last month. “Rep. Dan Goldman and Jamie Raskin, both lawyers, and Mr. Goldman, a former prosecutor with the SDNY from New York, will continue to lie today in this hearing and then go straight to the media to tell more lies.”
Bobulinski continued, “Hunter Biden’s defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, weaponizes letters to Congress to try to smear my name and make the cold hard facts in an attempt to save his powerfully connected client and his father. I challenged Mr. Lowell to make those claims on national television so he can be held accountable for his lies.”
Legal experts suggest that the case could be significant, testing the limits of free speech for public officials and the protections afforded under the Speech or Debate Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Raskin, a former law professor and the lead manager in the second impeachment trial of President Trump, has yet to respond to the allegations publicly.
The hearing in March, which was supposed to address the Biden family’s business dealings, veered into a dramatic showcase of political tension and personal accusations. A pivotal moment came when Rep. Jim Jordan directly asked Bobulinski to identify a mysterious figure referred to as “The Big Guy” in communications related to the Biden family’s business dealings. Bobulinski’s response was unequivocal: “Joe Biden.”
Jordan pressed further for clarity, seeking to cement the allegation with undeniable certainty. “You sure?” he asked.
“I’m 1000% sure,” Bobulinski confidently affirmed leaving no room for doubt in his statement.
The legal battle comes at a tumultuous time for Raskin, who has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration. His role in the impeachment trials and subsequent investigations has made him a hero to some and a target for others.