Hunter Biden's attempts to escape mounting legal pressures have taken an unexpected turn with his sudden departure to South Africa, accompanied by round-the-clock Secret Service protection.
According to the New York Post, the president's son fled to Cape Town last week, avoiding a scheduled deposition in California while staying at a $500-per-night beachfront villa, despite claiming financial hardship in court.
The 55-year-old Biden's luxury vacation coincided with his motion to dismiss a lawsuit against former Trump staffer Garrett Ziegler and his nonprofit Marco Polo. California District Court Judge Herman Vera granted the dismissal Thursday after Hunter claimed he could no longer afford to pursue the legal action. However, photographic evidence revealed he was already enjoying his South African retreat when the decision was made.
The controversy surrounding Hunter Biden's trip extends beyond his legal maneuvers. President Biden issued an executive memorandum before leaving office to indefinitely extend Secret Service protection for his son, despite Hunter not qualifying under the Former Presidents Protection Act.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed Hunter's protected status but declined to verify reports that 18 agents accompanied him to Cape Town. Local sources cited by independent reporter Laura Loomer suggest the security detail includes three shifts of four agents plus six backup agents, all staying at a nearby four-star hotel.
The estimated cost to taxpayers could reach half a million dollars, straining an already stretched Secret Service budget. This arrangement has drawn comparisons to former President Trump's six-month extension of protection for his adult children, which faced criticism for its $1.7 million price tag.
Ziegler's legal team has expressed skepticism about Hunter Biden's claims of financial hardship. The former first son's lawyers had argued that his art sales had declined and that Los Angeles wildfires had rendered his home uninhabitable.
According to Ziegler's statement on Friday:
He was in South Africa before the judge even decided the case. That means he is assuming his daddy's appointee is gonna rubber stamp what he wants.
The legal team plans to include photographic evidence of Hunter's Cape Town vacation in their next court filing, seeking $200,000 in legal costs incurred during the lawsuit over Marco Polo's digitized version of Hunter's laptop contents.
The beachfront villa where Hunter and his South African-born wife Melissa Cohen are staying is marketed as an "ultra-luxurious designer home" offering panoramic ocean views. The couple has been spotted by photographers in Cape Town's high-end shopping districts, accompanied by their Secret Service detail.
Hunter's legal representatives have strongly defended their client's position, criticizing opposing counsel Jennifer Holliday as "despicable" for questioning their client's financial situation. The response has only intensified scrutiny of Hunter's ability to afford such accommodations while claiming financial distress in court.
Ziegler and his legal team argue that these circumstances warrant a reevaluation of Hunter's Secret Service protection, suggesting that his lack of candor with the court should result in the revocation of this special security arrangement.
Hunter Biden's escape to South Africa while facing legal obligations in California has created a complex situation involving presidential privilege, taxpayer resources, and judicial oversight. The president's son avoided a potentially challenging deposition by traveling to Cape Town, where he continues to receive extensive government-funded protection. The case highlights the intersection of personal legal matters and public resources, as Hunter Biden maintains Secret Service protection through his father's executive action while simultaneously claiming financial hardship in court proceedings.
