Hollywood Power Broker Abruptly Drops Lawsuit Against Conservative Researcher
Kevin Morris, a Hollywood heavyweight attorney known for representing A-list celebrities like Matthew McConaughey and Scarlett Johansson, has unexpectedly moved to dismiss his lawsuit against Garrett Ziegler, founder of conservative research group Marco Polo. The lawsuit, which has been ongoing for over two and a half years, centered on allegations that Ziegler impersonated Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper in order to extract information about Hunter Biden from Morris. This legal battle is just one strand in the complex web surrounding President Biden’s son, who has faced intense scrutiny over his business dealings and personal life in recent years. Morris, who has been dubbed Hunter Biden’s “sugar brother” due to his substantial financial support of the president’s son, appears to be retreating from the legal confrontation that has consumed significant resources and attention.
The relationship between Morris and Hunter Biden began at a fundraiser for Joe Biden in November 2019, where the two men reportedly bonded over their shared experiences with addiction. Since then, Morris has provided millions in financial assistance to Hunter, covering everything from legal bills to overdue taxes, car payments, and even purchasing some of Hunter’s controversial artwork. Morris’s deep pockets and legal expertise have made him a crucial ally for Hunter, who has faced multiple legal challenges including a recent trial on gun charges. The Hollywood attorney’s support has been so extensive that he’s earned the nickname “sugar brother” in media coverage, highlighting the unusual nature of their relationship—a powerful entertainment lawyer stepping in to rescue the troubled son of a political figure with both financial backing and personal advocacy.
The sudden move to dismiss the lawsuit comes after Morris faced significant setbacks in court. While he had claimed Ziegler violated California’s criminal doxing statute and committed civil harassment, the California Court of Appeals rejected those claims earlier this summer. The court did allow Morris’s claims about impersonation to proceed, but this partial victory appears insufficient to justify continuing the legal battle from Morris’s perspective. The lawsuit stemmed from an alleged text exchange in which someone—purportedly Ziegler, though he denies this—pretended to be Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper to extract information about Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop. According to court documents, after obtaining the desired information, the texter revealed themselves by sending Morris “an image of a cartoon purple squid perched atop planet Earth, circled by the words ‘Marco Polo’ and ‘NOTHING IS BEYOND OUR REACH,'” seemingly taunting Morris about being deceived.
The aftermath of this revelation led to a heated exchange, with Morris allegedly threatening Ziegler with prison time and financial ruin, writing, “You’re going to prison and we’re going to get all of the money your family has and you will work for us for the rest of your life.” He reportedly added, “You’ll come to my house everyday and wash my car. We will follow you to the ends of the earth.” These threats now appear to have been empty as Morris seeks to walk away from the lawsuit entirely. Ziegler, a former aide to trade adviser Peter Navarro during the Trump administration, has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, providing “an unrebutted sworn statement that he did not message Morris,” according to his attorney. This case parallels another legal battle where Hunter Biden previously sued Ziegler over allegations of hacking his laptop, a case that a judge allowed Hunter to drop in March with the stipulation that he could not bring it again in the future.
Ziegler’s legal team is not allowing Morris to walk away from the lawsuit without consequences. His attorney, Jennifer Holliday, has challenged Morris’s attempt to dismiss the case “without prejudice,” which would leave the door open for Morris to potentially refile the suit later. In court documents, Holliday argued that this move shows “complete disregard of the terms of the Remittitur and of Defendants’ rights,” calling it “objectively improper.” Moreover, Ziegler’s team is demanding that Morris pay $364,814 in legal fees before the lawsuit can be dismissed, arguing that “Plaintiff, an experienced and well-resourced entertainment attorney, initiated litigation against out-of-state defendants for engaging in constitutionally protected speech.” They contend that defending against Morris’s claims required “specialized counsel and extensive factual and legal analysis to vindicate their First Amendment rights,” justifying the substantial fee request.
While Morris’s exact reasons for dropping the lawsuit remain unclear—his attorneys have not provided public comment on the decision—the timing raises questions about whether this retreat is connected to Hunter Biden’s ongoing legal challenges or other developments in the Biden family’s affairs. The abrupt shift comes at a time when Hunter has already abandoned his own lawsuit against Ziegler over similar issues. A hearing on Morris’s request to dismiss could occur as early as January 29, 2026, though Ziegler’s team is clearly positioning to extract a financial penalty before allowing Morris to walk away from what they characterize as a “meritless lawsuit.” This legal drama, intertwining Hollywood power, presidential politics, and personal vendettas, illustrates how the controversies surrounding Hunter Biden continue to create ripple effects through various aspects of American society, from entertainment to politics to the justice system.
