Federal Gun Trial: Hunter Biden Found Guilty on All Charges
TL/DR –
Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, has been convicted on all three charges in his federal gun trial, making him the first son of a sitting US president to be criminally convicted. Prosecutors claimed Biden lied about his drug use on a federal form when he bought a handgun in 2018. Biden’s conviction could potentially lead to prison time, though it is unlikely for him to receive the maximum sentence of 25 years.
Hunter Biden Conviction: President’s Son Guilty in Federal Gun Trial
Hunter Biden has been found guilty on all three gun charges in his federal trial, making history as the first son of a sitting US president to be criminally convicted. Prosecutors claimed that Biden, 54, lied about his drug use when purchasing a handgun in 2018. Biden claimed innocence, asserting he was in recovery from drug addiction at the time of the purchase.
A Delaware jury reached their verdict after approximately three hours of deliberation. Biden showed little emotion upon hearing his verdict, hugging members of his legal team afterward. He faced charges related to lying on a federal background check and possessing a gun while addicted to drugs.
Hunter Biden, escorted by Secret Service, left the courtroom after the trial ended. Despite his disappointment in the verdict, he expressed gratitude for the support he received from his wife, Melissa, his family, friends, and community. His wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, and his uncle James Biden, were present during the sentencing.
US First Lady Jill Biden arrived shortly after the verdict and left with her step-son, Hunter. Experts speculate that the charges may result in prison time for Hunter, though a 25-years maximum sentence is highly unlikely. The judge has yet to set a sentencing date but noted it typically occurs within 120 days of conviction.
Defence attorney Abbe Lowell vowed to “vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter”. Special counsel David Weiss stated that the case was centered around “the illegal choices the defendant made” during his addiction, emphasizing that “no-one in this country is above the law.”
President Biden was addressing a gun control conference during the verdict. Afterward, he met his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchild Beau on the tarmac in Wilmington. Despite the verdict, the president stated he was proud of his son’s efforts to overcome addiction and would accept the outcome of the case as Hunter considers an appeal.
The case involved Hunter Biden’s purchase and possession of a Colt Cobra Special revolver in 2018, which was eventually found abandoned by his then-girlfriend Hallie Biden. Hunter Biden has previously admitted to his struggle with crack cocaine addiction, with his former wife Kathleen Buhle and ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan revealing his drug binges at luxury hotels.
This conviction adds to the political tensions surrounding President Biden’s tight race for re-election against Donald Trump. Trump condemned the trial, claiming it to be a distraction from the “real crimes of the Biden Crime Family”. However, other Republicans welcomed the verdict, viewing it as a step towards accountability.
Within the courtroom, both prosecutors and the defence stressed that Biden’s family ties should not influence the jury’s decision. One of the jurors reiterated this, stating that he and other jurors disregarded the presence of the First Lady and Secret Service officers during the trial.
Hunter Biden’s legal challenges continue, as he also faces charges in a separate case for allegedly evading $1.4m in taxes from 2016-19, while spending millions on drugs, escorts, and luxury cars. This case is set to go to trial in September.
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