Hunter Biden Convicted of Federal Gun Charges

Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, was found guilty on three felony gun charges by a jury in Delaware on Tuesday. The charges were linked to his possession of a firearm while using narcotics. Despite pleading not guilty, the jury delivered its verdict after roughly three hours of deliberation.

This trial marks the first involving the child of a sitting president and unfolds as Joe Biden gears up for a tough re-election campaign against Donald Trump this November. Hunter Biden faces two counts, each carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence, and a third count with a maximum of five years. Additionally, each charge carries a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing guidelines suggest over a year in prison, but the final decision rests with the judge. No sentencing date has been set yet.

On the trial’s opening day, June 3, President Biden expressed his love and pride for his son, praising Hunter’s resilience and recovery journey. However, President Biden confirmed to ABC News that he would not pardon his son.

First lady Jill Biden attended multiple days of the trial, which included testimony from three of Hunter Biden’s former partners about his drug use. The charges included allegations of falsifying a form when purchasing a Colt Cobra revolver in October 2018 and possessing the firearm while using narcotics.

Hunter Biden’s defense argued that the wording on the gun shop form was ambiguous. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, pointed out that other questions on the form asked, “have you ever been,” but the question regarding drug use asked, “are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to” a narcotic drug. Lowell suggested that while Biden had used alcohol during that time, he was not using crack cocaine and did not consider himself an addict at the moment of purchase.

Prosecutors countered by citing passages from Hunter Biden’s book detailing his addiction struggles. Lowell argued that Hunter writing about his addiction in 2021 doesn’t prove he knew he was an addict when he bought the gun.