The court found substantial evidence indicating that the defendant fabricated major elements of his narrative regarding the covert meeting.
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Wilson wrote that the court found "ample evidence" supporting a finding that Byrne "knew the story to be false, and much of the narrative describing the covert meeting with an Iranian government official was fabricated."
As a consequence of the skipped trial and ongoing non-compliance, Judge Wilson entered a default judgment against Byrne.
The final ruling mandated nominal and punitive financial penalties alongside an order for Byrne to pay approximately $35,000 in separate court sanctions.
The judge on Friday wrote that "the evidence is clear and convincing that defendant has engaged in intentional misrepresentation with conscious disregard towards plaintiff's rights" – and he awarded Biden $1 in nominal damages along with $1.7 million in punitive damages.
Following the decision, legal counsel for Biden issued a statement addressing the severity of the allegations made by Byrne.
Counsel Bryan Sullivan stated that the judgment serves as a baseline for the financial liabilities incurred by the defendant.
"The judgment is $1.7 million in punitive damages, and it is the floor, not the ceiling, of what Mr Byrne owes for his conduct," Sullivan added.
"If Mr Byrne chooses to repeat any of it, we will be back in court."
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The legal victory coincides with Biden establishing an online audience through social media updates on politics, mental health, and addiction recovery alongside plans to publish essays on Substack, following a presidential pardon from his father regarding federal gun and tax convictions.
