June 11th 2024.
Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, has recently been convicted of three felony charges related to a gun purchase back in 2018. The incident has caused quite a stir as it could potentially affect the upcoming US presidential election, with the sentencing date just days before the voting day. The charges were brought against Hunter after he allegedly lied on a mandatory gun-purchase form by stating that he was not using or addicted to drugs, despite evidence presented by the prosecution suggesting otherwise.
After a lengthy trial, the jurors reached a verdict on Tuesday, finding Hunter Biden guilty of making false claims on the application and illegally possessing the gun for 11 days. Hunter appeared stoic as the verdict was read and later showed a brief moment of emotion as he patted his defense attorney on the shoulder. He now faces a possible 25-year sentence, although it is unlikely that he will receive the maximum penalty, especially since this is his first offense. The sentencing date has not yet been set, but it is expected to take place 120 days after the verdict, which could potentially be in mid-October, just weeks before the presidential election.
The first lady, Jill Biden, who had been present for most of the trial, arrived at the courthouse shortly after the jury's decision was announced. She was not in the courtroom when the verdict was read. After the proceedings, Hunter Biden left the courthouse hand in hand with both his wife and the first lady. They did not speak to reporters and quickly got into waiting SUVs before driving off.
In a statement released after the verdict, President Joe Biden expressed his acceptance of the outcome and stated that he would continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. He also shared his pride in Hunter, who has been sober since 2019, and assured that he and the first lady will always be there to support him and the rest of their family.
In his own written statement, Hunter Biden expressed disappointment in the verdict but was grateful for the support of his family and friends. His attorney also stated that they will continue to vigorously pursue all legal options available to them. The trial has caused concern among allies of the president, who worry about the impact it may have on the 81-year-old, particularly given his son's history of drug addiction and struggles with sobriety.
Both Hunter Biden and former President Donald Trump have claimed to be victims of political attacks. However, while Trump has continued to falsely claim that the verdict was rigged, Joe Biden has stated that he will accept the outcome and will not seek to pardon his son. However, Hunter's legal troubles are far from over as he is set to face another trial in September for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. Additionally, congressional Republicans have signaled their intention to continue pursuing him in their impeachment effort against the president.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution focused heavily on Hunter Biden's drug addiction, presenting highly personal testimonies and embarrassing evidence. Jurors heard from his ex-wife and former girlfriend, who spoke about his habitual crack use and their unsuccessful attempts to help him get clean. They also saw photos and videos of Hunter in compromising situations, further highlighting his struggles with addiction. While Hunter did not testify, jurors were played audio excerpts from his memoir, in which he talks about his descent into drugs before eventually getting sober.
The prosecution argued that Hunter was in the throes of addiction when he purchased the gun and therefore lied on the form when he denied being an unlawful drug user. However, Hunter's defense attorney countered by stating that his state of mind was different when he wrote the book compared to when he bought the gun. The defense also pointed out that some of the questions on the form were in the present tense, which could have led Hunter to believe that he did not have a drug problem at the time.
The trial was further complicated when a deal between Hunter and prosecutors fell through due to concerns raised by the judge about its unusual terms. This led to the appointment of a special counsel and eventual indictment of Hunter Biden. He has claimed that he was only charged because of pressure from Republicans who wanted to discredit the president's son.
The incident that sparked the investigation occurred when Hunter's late brother's widow found the gun in his truck and disposed of it, causing it to be retrieved by police. The case was ultimately closed due to a lack of cooperation from Hunter, who was considered the victim in the situation.
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