A jury of 12 has found Hunter Biden, 54, guilty of falsely declaring he was not using drugs on a form when purchasing a handgun in 2018.
This conviction, marking the first criminal prosecution of a sitting president’s child, could result in possible jail time for Hunter Biden.
The conviction on three felony counts comes as President Biden campaigns for re-election and just weeks after his opponent, Donald Trump, was convicted of a crime in New York.
While President Biden did not attend the trial in Delaware, many family members, including First Lady Jill Biden, were present to support Hunter Biden.
Following the verdict, President Biden traveled to Wilmington, Delaware, where he embraced his son on the tarmac. In a statement, he said, “I am the president, but I am also a dad.
Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today.”
He further expressed his commitment to “accept the outcome of this case and… continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.”
Earlier, President Biden ruled out the possibility of pardoning his son, despite the trial revealing embarrassing details about Hunter Biden’s drug use.
Prosecutors presented testimony from Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, and former girlfriend, Zoe Kestan, who detailed his drug binges.
The court also saw text messages and photographs documenting his addiction.
The verdict has sparked immediate political reactions, especially from Republicans who have long scrutinized Hunter Biden’s actions.
James Comer, the Republican chair of the House oversight committee, called it a “step toward accountability” and urged investigations into what he termed the “Bidens’ corrupt influence peddling schemes.”
The Trump campaign issued a statement claiming the trial was “nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family,” echoing allegations frequently made by Trump.
In contrast, Democrats praised the US justice system and criticized Republicans for their response to Trump’s conviction.
Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin highlighted the differing reactions, stating, “The Republicans are attacking our entire system of justice and the rule of law because they don’t like the way one case came out, whereas the son of the president of the United States is prosecuted and I don’t hear a single Democrat crying foul.”
Several jurors have stated that politics did not influence their decision. One juror told the BBC, “I was never thinking of President Joe Biden,” and emphasized that no juror mentioned political motivations.
Aides to President Biden have indicated that the trial and verdict have emotionally affected him.
Politico reported that Mr. Biden had been “consumed with the trial for weeks,” seeking updates while attending events in France.
The president reportedly feels guilty about the impact of his political career on his son’s legal troubles.
The Washington Post noted that his advisers often avoid discussing Hunter Biden with him and try to limit Hunter’s public appearances.
Hunter Biden will be sentenced within the next 120 days, though the date has not been set.
He faces up to 25 years in prison, but legal experts believe a severe sentence is unlikely given his status as a first-time, non-violent offender.
His legal challenges continue as he faces a trial in California in September for failing to pay $1.4 million in income taxes, a conviction which could lead to up to 17 years in prison.
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