Hunter Biden, younger son of former Vice PresidentJoe Biden, allegedly fathered a child last summer in Arkansas but has not acknowledged his paternity or provided child support, the child’s mother claims.
Hunter — whosetumultuous personal lifehas recently returned himto the headlines— faces a lawsuit from Lunden Roberts for paternity and child support in Independence County, Arkansas.
Roberts’ suit states only that she and Hunter, 49, “were in a relationship” and had a child born in August in Independence County. She is petitioning the court to certify Hunter is the child’s father and order him to pay child support, including health care costs, as well as her attorney fees.
The suit was filed on May 28 and a summons for Hunter was issued immediately after. However, Roberts’ attorney told theArkansas Democrat-Gazettethey have not yet been able to serve him.
The case has no pending hearings or further filings, according to an online docket. Hunter has 30 days to respond in writing.
Roberts “really values her privacy,” her attorney, Clint Lancaster, told theDemocrat-Gazette. “This is a parenting and child support issue between her and Mr. Biden,” he said.
Lancaster’s office told PEOPLE he is not commenting further on the case. PEOPLE was unable to reach Hunter on Friday. He has not responded to recent requests for comment from the magazine.
Hunter (left) and Joe Biden.Teresa Kroeger/Getty Images
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Earlier this month his father, who is the leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination to challenge Donald Trump next year, confirmed Hunter had secretly married after splitting with his brother’s widow,Hallie Biden.
(Hunter’s new wife, Melissa Cohen, declined to comment to PEOPLE.)
In 2017 Hunter made headlines when his family confirmed he had split with wife Kathleenand was seeingHallie, his former sister-in-law.
“Hallie and I are incredibly lucky to have found the love and support we have for each other in such a difficult time, and that’s been obvious to the people who love us most,” Hunter told Page Six then. “We’ve been so lucky to have family and friends who have supported us every step of the way.”
The pair quickly finalized their split. Biden’s brother Jim told PEOPLE in 2017 that Hunter and Kathleen “had been estranged for quite some time,” and a friend said Beau’s decline and death compounded their problems.
Teresa Kroeger/Getty Images for World Food Program USA
“Even though my life has been played out in the media, because I am a Biden, my father never once suggested that the family’s public profile should be my priority,” Hunter continued. “The priority has always been clear for my dad, as it is, now, for me: Never run from a struggle. Love people and find a way to love yourself. And remember that the two things are very much connected.”
A spokeswoman for the former vice president did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on the paternity suit.
source: people.com
