California Court Orders Payment in Biden Laptop Case

A California high court has decided that Kevin Morris, known for his ties to Hunter Biden, must pay $50,000 in legal fees to Garrett Ziegler, a former aide to Trump and founder of the conservative organization, Marco Polo.

This ruling puts an end to a prolonged conflict regarding whether Ziegler impersonated a Democratic consultant to retrieve private information about Hunter Biden’s laptop during a phone call with Morris back in 2022.

Jennifer Holliday, Ziegler’s attorney, expressed her dissatisfaction with the outcome, stating, “That’s not really how I imagined it would play out… that’s why we petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for reconsideration.”

Holliday is now urging the Supreme Court to assess California’s anti-SLAPP law, claiming it has enabled what she views as weak allegations to thrive, complicating the situation further.

Those familiar with the situation described the court’s decision as merely a formality. They noted that Ziegler’s legal team had sought up to $300,000 in damages to settle the matter, and they were skeptical about the chances of the Supreme Court taking up the case.

The conflict between Morris and Ziegler began with a phone call in 2022, where Morris discussed a laptop with someone he suspected to be a Democratic operative. Following that conversation, he received a message featuring an image of a squid along with the phrase “Nothing is beyond our reach,” which led him to realize he had been talking with Ziegler.

Morris, who reportedly lent Hunter Biden around $6.5 million, quickly assessed his laptop’s contents and understood the identity of the caller. Ziegler had previously served as a policy analyst in the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy before establishing Marco Polo.

Initially, Morris accused Ziegler of harassment and impersonation, among other claims, but the lawsuit turned contentious when communication lines between Morris and Ziegler became disconnected.

Reflecting on the case’s lengthy duration, Holliday remarked, “Morris had it going for three years without producing any evidence that would link the calls to Ziegler.” She expressed frustration with the situation, citing the absence of the phone number in court records or during the discovery phase.

When asked for the caller’s identity, Holliday declined to comment further. Ziegler countered by stating that Morris was complicit in supporting Hunter Biden and filed the lawsuit with intention.

“Mr. Morris is responsible for everything that Mr. Hunter has extracted in recent years,” Ziegler claimed, referencing Morris’s financial assistance to Biden for various expenses.

Recently, reports revealed that Morris had donated $29,900 ahead of Eric Swalwell’s campaign for governor of California, which faltered following allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell, who has been labeled as Hunter Biden’s “biggest cheerleader” in Congress, had several meetings with Morris during the congressional investigation into Hunter Biden’s activities.

Ziegler’s legal representation has stipulated that if Morris doesn’t pay the court-ordered amount within 30 days, a review will be initiated.

FOX News Digital has sought to connect with Morris’s lawyer for further comments.