U.S President’s Son, Hunter Biden, Convicted On Three Felony Counts In Federal Gun Case

Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has been convicted on three felony counts related to the purchase of a firearm in 2018.

This conviction marks the first time in U.S. history that the son of a sitting president would be found guilty in a federal court.

The Wilmington, Delaware, jury deliberated for about three hours over two days before reaching their verdict.

They found Hunter guilty of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on a gun purchase application by stating he was not a drug user, and illegally possessing the firearm for 11 days.

According to AP, Hunter showed little emotion as the verdict was read. He hugged his attorneys, Abbe Lowell and another defence lawyer, and kissed his wife, Melissa, before leaving the courtroom.

First Lady Jill Biden arrived at the courthouse minutes after the verdict was delivered and left with Hunter and Melissa without speaking to reporters.

President Joe Biden issued a statement following the verdict, expressing unwavering support for his son.

“Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that,” he said.

The president has maintained a distance from the proceedings, wary of any appearance of interfering in the case brought by his own Justice Department.

The trial exposed the deep personal struggles of Hunter, including his battle with drug addiction.

Prosecutors presented extensive evidence of his drug use, including testimony from his ex-wife and a former girlfriend.

Jurors also viewed images and videos of Hunter in various states of disarray, illustrating the severity of his addiction at the time he purchased the firearm.

His defence argued that he did not consider himself an “addict” when he bought the gun, pointing to his completion of a rehabilitation program shortly before the purchase.

His daughter, Naomi Biden, testified that he seemed to have improved during that period.

The case has significant political ramifications, coming in an election year and drawing parallels to the legal troubles of Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

While Trump has claimed that his legal issues are politically motivated, President Biden has stated he will accept the verdict and will not seek to pardon his son.

Hunter faces up to 25 years in prison when sentenced by Judge Maryellen Noreika, though first-time offenders rarely receive the maximum sentence. The judge has not yet set a sentencing date.

In another case, Hunter is scheduled to stand trial in September for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes.

The investigation into Hunter Biden’s gun purchase began after Hallie Biden, Beau Biden’s widow, found the unloaded revolver in Hunter’s truck and disposed of it in a grocery store trash can.

The gun was subsequently retrieved by a man who found it among other recyclables. Despite initial police involvement, the case was closed due to a lack of cooperation from Hunter, who was considered the victim then.

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