Hunter Biden Found Guilty of Lying to Illegally Buy a Gun: President Biden Responds
In a landmark decision, Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has been convicted by a jury in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, on all three counts related to lying about his drug use in order to illegally purchase a gun. This makes Hunter Biden the first child of a sitting US president to be convicted of a crime. The verdict was met with a subdued reaction from Hunter Biden, who was seen nodding slightly and embracing his legal team after the reading.
President Joe Biden publicly stated his acceptance of the outcome of the case and his pride in Hunter's sobriety since 2019. Despite his disappointment with the verdict, Hunter Biden expressed gratitude for the support of his family and friends post-trial.
The sentencing for the gun charges, which typically range from 15 to 21 months, is expected to take place within 120 days. Legal experts suggest that defendants in similar cases often receive shorter sentences if they comply with pretrial release terms.
This development comes in the wake of Donald Trump's criminal conviction on May 30, making him the first former US president found guilty of a felony. The ongoing legal challenges do not seem to impede Joe Biden's bid for reelection, with the president affirming support for his son regardless of the outcomes.
In another legal entanglement, Hunter Biden faces charges for tax offences in California, allegedly amounting to $14 million in unpaid taxes from 2016 to 2019. The trial for these charges is scheduled for September 5 in Los Angeles.
The Delaware trial featured testimonials from Hunter Biden's ex-wife, former girlfriend, and sister-in-law, shedding light on his struggles with addiction and the circumstances surrounding the gun purchase in 2018. While prosecutors presented evidence indicating his drug use at the time of the transaction, Hunter Biden's defense argued that he was not using drugs during the purchase and did not deliberately deceive authorities.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the overarching sentiment remains one of familial support from the Bidens and the acknowledgment that justice is impartial, as emphasized by Special Counsel David Weiss, the prosecutor in Hunter Biden's case.
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