Hunter Biden ordered to appear in Arkansas court in child support case

FILE – Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, speaks to guests during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, April 18, 2022, in Washington. Republicans are laying the groundwork to make Hunter Biden and his business dealings a central target of their investigative and oversight efforts. The financial dealings of the president’s eldest son will come under new scrutiny if Republicans win control of one or both houses of Congress this fall, as is increasingly expected. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

by: Alex Kienlen

Posted: Apr 25, 2023 / 02:29 PM CDT

Updated: Apr 25, 2023 / 02:31 PM CDT

INDEPENDENCE COUNTY, Ark. – The embattled son of U.S. President Joe Biden has been ordered to appear in an Arkansas courtroom next week.

The order is for Hunter Biden to appear in a Batesville courtroom at 9 a.m. Monday for a contempt hearing on a contempt charge and all other pending motions in an ongoing child support case.

Biden has been in this legal dispute since May of 2019 when Lunden Roberts filed a petition against him for paternity and child support in Independence County. A temporary order for child support was issued in the case in January 2020, followed by a final child support order against Biden in March 2020.

In September 2020, Biden’s attorney filed for a hearing to reset child support, citing a change in his income. Roberts’ attorney a motion a month later to deny the request.

Biden’s attorney filed a second request for a protection order seeking to seal information about the case, including financial information. The court granted this request in March of 2023.

Court records show a continued series of filings from both sides since the March decision. Last Friday Roberts’ attorney filed a motion for contempt, claiming Biden had not responded to any requests citing the secrecy order and asking the court to jail the president’s son, stating: “This court should incarcerate the defendant in the Cleburne County Detention Center for flaunting the dignity and authority of this court.”

Court records do not show a response from Biden’s attorney following the latest development Tuesday.