Hunter Biden Found Guilty in Weapons Case, Faces Up to 25 Years in Prison
Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, has been found guilty on all three counts in a trial regarding weapon purchases and false statements. The trial revealed that Hunter concealed his drug addiction when acquiring a firearm in October 2018. With the unanimous verdict delivered by a jury in Wilmington, Delaware, Hunter Biden faces a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
After the decision, President Joe Biden altered his planned travel to the G7 summit in Italy to visit his son in Delaware. Demonstrating the family’s close relationship, First Lady Jill Biden attended court nearly every day to offer her support to Hunter. The president had spoken at a gun violence prevention event in Washington before his emotional reunion with Hunter.
The trial uncovered Hunter Biden's drug addiction issues, documented in his autobiography, and corroborated by testimonies from his ex-wife and former girlfriends. Despite these testimonies, Hunter's defense argued that he believed he was drug-free at the time of purchasing the gun after completing a rehabilitation program. The court proceedings brought to light many personal details, becoming a significant political burden for President Biden, especially amidst an election year.
In addition to his legal troubles surrounding weapons, Hunter Biden faces charges in California related to allegedly failing to pay federal taxes for several years. An agreement with prosecutors to avoid court proceedings fell through in July 2023.
The sentence will be announced mid-October, just weeks before the US presidential election in November, further intensifying the political climate. Both sides of the political spectrum are using these trials as ammunition, with Democrats discrediting Republican ex-President Donald Trump as a convicted criminal while Trump uses the verdict against Hunter Biden to rally his base and claim a political witch hunt.
- The prosecution presented robust evidence against Hunter Biden, including excerpts from his memoirs where he admits to drug use until March 2019. Despite the traces of cocaine found on the packaging of the firearm, the defense argued the lack of direct evidence of drug use in the month preceding the gun purchase.
- Hunter initially admitted to the illegal purchase as part of a deal to mitigate penalties for two tax crimes, requiring him to stay drug-free for two years. However, this deal collapsed due to differing interpretations and political pressures. The legal battles exacerbate the already intense atmosphere of the US election year, as any announcement of the sentence will likely influence public opinion and political strategies.
- Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are leveraging these legal proceedings in their campaigns. Trump, convicted of illegal campaign financing, is using Hunter's verdict to highlight what he calls a biased legal system. Meanwhile, Joe Biden reiterates that no one is above the law, distancing himself from any accusations of favoritism.
