US President’s son, Hunter Biden convicted on all charges in gun case

Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, was found guilty on Tuesday of federal gun charges, marking the first criminal prosecution of a sitting U.S. president’s child. The 54-year-old was convicted on all three counts against him, as reported by CNN and other U.S. media outlets.

Hunter Biden was charged with lying about his illegal drug use when purchasing a handgun in 2018, a felony offense. The verdict comes at a challenging time for his father, who is seeking reelection and was scheduled to give a speech about gun violence on the same day.

The jury deliberated for approximately three hours over two days before reaching a guilty verdict. Hunter Biden did not testify during the one-week trial held in Wilmington, Delaware, the Biden family’s hometown. First Lady Jill Biden attended several days of the trial, while President Biden, who did not attend, expressed his support for his son.

“As President, I don’t and won’t comment on pending federal cases, but as a Dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength,” President Biden said in an earlier statement.

Hunter Biden’s legal troubles have complicated the Democrats’ efforts to keep the election focus on Donald Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, who was recently convicted on business fraud charges.

Drug Addiction and Legal Issues
Hunter Biden’s struggles with addiction have been a painful chapter for the Biden family, particularly following the death of his brother Beau from cancer in 2015 and the earlier loss of his sister Naomi and mother Neilia in a 1972 car crash.

The Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist-turned-artist was charged with falsely stating he was not using drugs illegally when he purchased a .38 caliber revolver in 2018. He also faced charges for illegal possession of the firearm, which he had for just 11 days in October of that year. Despite his addiction issues, Hunter Biden claimed that he did not consider himself an addict at the time of the purchase.

Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison, although jail time is unlikely for a first-time offender. He has been a frequent target of right-wing Republicans, with Trump allies investigating him extensively on allegations of corruption and influence-peddling, though no charges have resulted from these inquiries.

His business dealings in China and Ukraine have also been used by Republican lawmakers in unsuccessful attempts to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Biden. The White House has stated there would be no presidential pardon for Hunter Biden.