Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, finds his legal troubles far from over following a conviction on three felony firearms charges. The charges, which spotlighted his past struggles with drug addiction, arose from a 2018 incident where he purchased a gun during a period described by prosecutors as marked by crack cocaine use. “I just dropped like a rock,” Biden stated, reflecting on his sudden fall into legal peril.
After a brief deliberation spanning just three hours over two days, a jury in Wilmington, Delaware, found him guilty. He was accused of lying on a gun purchase form about his drug use. The convictions could carry a maximum of 25 years in prison, though actual sentencing is left to U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, a Trump appointee, who has yet to schedule a sentencing date. Given federal guidelines, which often result in lighter sentences for first-time offenders, Biden may not serve time in prison. Options such as probation or home detention remain on the table.
As Hunter Biden’s legal team prepares for sentencing, they will likely highlight that his firearm was never used in a crime and stress his recovery efforts, noting he has been sober since 2019. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, has indicated plans to “vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available,” though the grounds for appeal remain unclear after several pre-trial motions were unsuccessful.
Adding to his legal woes, Biden faces another trial on tax charges in California, now scheduled for September 5. The charges allege a four-year scheme to evade $1.4 million in taxes, money federal prosecutors claim was instead spent on an extravagant lifestyle, via BBC. Despite these accusations, Biden has repaid the back taxes. The case continues to draw significant attention, with about 30 witnesses expected to testify for the prosecution.
In the political arena, House Republicans have issued criminal referrals against Hunter Biden and President Biden’s brother, James, as part of an impeachment inquiry into the president, which has stalled. These referrals have been criticized by Hunter Biden’s attorney as attempts to distract from the impeachment’s lack of progress.
Amid these developments, President Biden has expressed his intention to respect the judicial process, contrasting his stance with that of Donald Trump, who criticized the justice system following his own legal challenges. Trump’s campaign has labeled Hunter Biden’s legal issues a diversion from alleged misconduct by the Biden family, continuing a pattern of sharp political division.