Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, has been found guilty of making false statements about his drug use to purchase a firearm illegally.
A 12-member jury in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, unanimously reached the conviction. This makes Hunter Biden the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.
The verdict could be seen as a counterpoint to accusations by Donald Trump, who has claimed the justice system is being used politically against him. Trump himself was convicted on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records to conceal a sex scandal. He has argued that his prosecution, along with others, is an attempt by Democrats to prevent his political comeback.
Democrats have cited the prosecution of Hunter Biden as evidence that President Joe Biden does not manipulate the justice system for personal or political gains. President Biden has stated he would not pardon his son if convicted.
The charges against Hunter Biden were brought by David Weiss, a Special Counsel appointed by Trump. In addition to the gun-related charges, Hunter Biden faces charges in California for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes and for expenditures on drugs, escorts, and luxury items.
The trial featured testimonies from Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, former girlfriend, and sister-in-law, detailing his addiction struggles around the time of the gun purchase in October 2018. Evidence presented by prosecutors included text messages and bank records indicating his ongoing drug use, which contradicted his “no” answer on a government form about drug usage.
Hunter Biden’s defence argued that he was not using drugs at the time of the purchase and did not intentionally deceive as he did not consider himself a drug user then. His daughter, Naomi Biden, testified, supporting the claim that her father was in good condition during that period.
Legal experts suggest that while sentencing guidelines for the gun charge recommend 15 to 21 months, defendants in similar situations often receive lesser sentences, particularly if they comply with pretrial release conditions.
