Hunter Biden, the son of former U.S. President Joe Biden, has requested a federal judge to terminate his lawsuit against Garrett Ziegler, a former aide to President Trump, due to severe financial complications that have hindered his ability to sustain the litigation.

Court documents filed in a California federal court reveal Biden’s lawyers urged District Judge Hernan D. Vera to end the 2023 lawsuit, referencing a “significant downturn” in Biden’s income and a considerable debt running into millions.

The lawsuit, initiated in September 2023, accused Ziegler and his firm, Marco Polo, of violating state and federal laws by establishing an online database comprising 128,000 emails linked to Biden. The suit also alleged that Ziegler disseminated additional data, such as photographs and other sensitive materials from Hunter Biden’s laptop.

Ziegler, a former aide to Trump’s trade advisor Peter Navarro from February 2019 to January 2021, had earlier labeled the lawsuit as “completely frivolous.” The presiding judge rejected Ziegler’s attempt to dismiss the lawsuit and ordered him to cover Biden’s legal fees, amounting to around $18,000, in September.

Biden’s financial predicament reportedly worsened due to factors including damage to his rented home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, California. Court filings indicate that recent wildfires have made his home “unlivable for an extended period of time,” causing additional difficulties for Biden and his family.

According to his lawyers, Biden has been struggling to find a new permanent home and earn a livelihood. They stated that he must focus his time and resources on his relocation, repairs to his rented home, and his family’s living expenses.

Biden’s art sales, which were once a significant source of his income, have seen a drastic decline, according to court documents. In the two to three years prior to December 2023, he sold 27 pieces for an average price of roughly $54,500 each. However, since then, he has only managed to sell one piece for $36,000. Art industry experts predict that Biden’s art market might shrink further now that his father is no longer in office.

His memoir sales have also taken a hit. He sold over 3,100 copies of his book from April to September 2023, when the lawsuit started. However, in the following six months, sales fell to around 1,100 copies.

“I am not in a position where I can borrow money,” Biden stated in a related court filing on Wednesday. He had expected to secure paid speaking engagements and appearances due to the response to his artwork and memoir, but these opportunities have not come to fruition.

Biden’s financial difficulties are accompanied by other legal issues. Last year, he was found guilty on federal gun charges and pleaded guilty in a federal tax case. His father, Joe Biden, pardoned him shortly before his scheduled sentencing in the gun case in December.

Although the pardon erased Hunter Biden’s federal convictions, his financial troubles have continued. Biden has also been embroiled in a separate litigation with the owner of a Delaware computer repair shop over the leak of laptop data. The notorious laptop, which sparked controversy during the 2020 presidential election, contained compromising photos and allegations of drug use.

In his current motion, Biden indicated he is evaluating his ongoing lawsuits on a “case-by-case basis to allocate [his] limited resources,” implying that his financial situation is significantly influencing his legal strategy.

The request to dismiss the lawsuit against Ziegler comes as House Republicans scrutinize Hunter Biden’s business ventures and art sales. Some lawmakers have questioned whether those who bought his artwork, priced up to $85,000 per piece, were trying to win favor with then President Biden. The gallery owner representing Hunter has refuted any claims of buyers attempting to sway the president with their purchases.