Hunter Biden, the son of a sitting US president, is now the first person to face criminal conviction after being found guilty on all three counts in his federal firearms trial.
Biden, 54, is accused by prosecutors of lying on a federal paperwork about his drug usage when he purchased a pistol in 2018. Biden entered a not guilty plea, arguing that he had been honest on the gun application form since he was in the process of recovering from drug addiction at the time.
After over three hours of discussion, a panel of twelve Delaware jurors arrived at their decision. When Biden found out his destiny on Tuesday, he remained mostly emotionless. Arms crossed, he looked straight ahead before turning to embrace a few members of his legal team.
He was charged with two counts of lying to the federal government about his drug usage and one count of carrying a pistol while under the influence of narcotics. After the court was adjourned, he gave his wife a kiss and a hug before leaving the chamber with Secret Service escorts. Hunter Biden's troubles and controversies What Joe Biden's son should learn from the conviction
Will Hunter Biden end up behind bars?
In a statement, Biden expressed his disappointment with the result but expressed his gratitude for Melissa, his family, friends, and the community for their love and support over the last week. Biden's family had been in court with him many times throughout the trial. Only two people, Joe Biden's brother and uncle James Biden and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, were present for the sentence. Shortly after the decision was announced, US First Lady Jill Biden entered the courtroom via the foyer and walked past hordes of reporters and photographers with her stepson.
Hunter Biden may do time in jail, according to experts, however it is very improbable that he would get the maximum 25-year term. Although the judge did not specify a date, she did say that the sentence would typically be carried out 120 days after the conviction. Defence attorney Abbe Lowell said that he will "vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter". Following the trial prosecutors' statements, special counsel David Weiss said following the conviction that the case was not about addiction but rather "the illegal choices the defendant made" while suffering from an addiction.
Mr. Weiss said, "No one in this country is above the law." "Everyone, including this defendant, needs to take responsibility for their actions." Meanwhile, on Tuesday, President Biden spoke at a gun control conference in Washington, DC. After that, he made his way to Wilmington. Following his arrival, he welcomed Beau, his kid, and his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Cohen Biden, on the runway. Following the decision, the president declared himself "so proud" of his son for his attempts to overcome his addictions. "So many families who have had loved ones battle abuse understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come from the other side and be so resilient and steadfast in recovery," he said.
The president said prior to the decision that he would not pardon his son in the event of a conviction. "As Hunter considers an appeal, I will respect the legal system and accept the outcome of this case."
The three gun charges are connected to Biden's October 2018 purchase—which he had for around 11 days—of a Colt Cobra Special revolver from a gun dealer in Delaware. Later, the gun was found in his vehicle when his then-girlfriend Hallie Biden, who was his brother Beau's widow, threw it in a dumpster outside of a store. In the past, especially in his biography, Biden has been open about his "full-blown addiction" to crack cocaine.
Jurors also heard testimony from his ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, and ex-girlfriend, Zoe Kestan, who spoke of extended periods of drug use at opulent hotels throughout the nation.
Given that his father is locked in a close contest with Donald Trump to win reelection in November, Biden's conviction comes at a politically sensitive moment for him. The former US president, Mr. Trump, dismissed the idea that the prosecution of his political rival's son demonstrated the political neutrality of the US legal system. Mr. Trump was found guilty of fabricating company documents in New York City last month. The Biden Crime Family's actual crimes have been diverted by this trial, according to a statement released by Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign. However, other Republicans who spoke with Hunter Biden during their investigation into his father's impeachment were pleased with the conviction. In a post on X, the previous Twitter platform, House Oversight Chairman James Comer said, "Today's verdict is a step toward accountability."
Even though the first lady and Secret Service agents were plainly visible from the jury box, Mr. Lowell and the prosecution both repeatedly urged the jurors that Biden's family should not have any influence on their verdict. One juror, identified as No. 10, told the BBC that he and the other members of the panel took those lessons to heart in an interview hours following the judgment. He said, "I was never thinking of President Joe Biden" during the trial. "Even though I knew Mrs. Biden was his wife, she was present. You manage to ignore it somehow."
He responded, "His dad wasn't on trial." "Out of all the jurors, nobody mentioned anything about political motivations." The decision on Tuesday does not mean that Biden's legal issues will end. In a separate criminal case, he is accused of avoiding taxes totaling $1.4 million (£1.1 million) from 2016 to 2019 while spending millions on prostitutes, drugs, and expensive automobiles. September will see the trial of the case.
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