In a historic first for the child of a sitting US president, Hunter Biden was found guilty on Tuesday of federal gun charges. The 54-year-old son of President Joe Biden was convicted on all three felony counts related to his 2018 purchase of a handgun while addicted to drugs.
The verdict coincides with President Biden’s campaign for reelection and the same day the Democratic president was scheduled to address gun violence in Washington. Following the trial, President Biden expressed his “love and support” for his son in a statement from the White House. “I am the President, but I am also a Dad,” Biden said. “Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.”
President Biden added, “I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.”
The jury, consisting of 12 members, deliberated for about three hours over two days before reaching their verdict. Hunter Biden did not testify during the one-week trial. First Lady Jill Biden attended several days of the proceedings.
Although Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison, jail time is considered unlikely as he is a first-time offender.
The verdict comes shortly after former President Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s likely Republican opponent in the upcoming presidential election, was convicted on business fraud charges. Hunter Biden also faces tax evasion charges in California, further complicating the Democratic efforts to focus the election on Trump, who is the first former president ever to be convicted of a crime. These legal issues have not only been a political distraction but have also reopened painful family wounds from Hunter’s battle with addiction.
Hunter Biden’s tragic family history includes the deaths of his brother Beau from cancer in 2015, and his sister Naomi and mother Neilia in a 1972 car crash.
The Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist-turned-artist was charged with falsely stating during the purchase of a .38 caliber revolver in 2018 that he was not using drugs illegally. He was also charged with illegal possession of the firearm, which he owned for just 11 days in October of that year.
Despite writing openly about his addiction, Hunter Biden claimed that he did not consider himself an addict at the time of the gun purchase. He has been a frequent target of right-wing Republicans, with Trump allies in Congress investigating him on allegations of corruption and influence-peddling. No charges related to these allegations have been brought.
Hunter Biden’s business activities in China and Ukraine have fueled Republican attempts to initiate impeachment proceedings against his father, efforts that have thus far been unsuccessful.
The White House has stated there would be no presidential pardon for Hunter Biden.
