A jury in Wilmington, Delaware, found Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, guilty on Tuesday (11) of criminally lying to obtain a firearm. The three criminal charges are related to the purchase of a revolver in 2018 when, prosecutors argued, the president’s son lied on a mandatory federal form for gun purchases, stating that he did not traffic, use, or was addicted to drugs.
The prosecution dedicated much of the trial highlighting the severity of Hunter Biden’s drug problem, through highly personal testimonies and embarrassing evidence.
The jurors heard from Hunter Biden’s ex-wife and an ex-girlfriend testify about his habitual crack use and their failed efforts to help him get clean. The jurors saw images of the president’s son bare-chested and disheveled in a filthy room, and semi-nude holding crack pipes.
The prosecutors deemed the evidence necessary to prove that Hunter was suffering from addiction when he purchased the gun and therefore lied when he marked “no” on the form that asked if he was “an illegal user or addicted to” drugs.
Hunter stated in a statement that he was “disappointed” with the verdict but was grateful for the love and support of his family and friends. He could face up to 25 years in prison, but first-time defendants who did not use their weapons to commit a violent crime typically do not receive prison sentences. No sentencing date has been set yet.
The verdict brings to a close a trial that painfully exposed Biden’s crack addiction, reckless behavior, and uncontrolled spending – narrated by three former romantic partners, including the widow of his brother, Beau Biden.
The President’s Reaction
In a statement, President Biden said that he and First Lady Jill Biden were proud to see their son being “so strong and resilient in recovery” from addiction. “Jill and I will always stand by Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support,” he added. “Nothing will ever change that.”
President Biden also stated that he would not use the benefit of pardon for his son, adding that he “will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.”
Sentencing May Take Months
Judge Maryellen Noreika, who presided over the case, said that sentencing typically occurs about 120 days after the verdict – that would be early October, or about a month before the presidential elections. Although the maximum sentence Biden could face is more than two decades in prison and $750,000 in fines, federal sentencing guidelines require a fraction of that sentence.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles are not over yet. He will face another trial in September in California on charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes.
Source: The New York Times and AP