WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden was convicted by a jury on Tuesday of lying about his drug use to unlawfully buy a gun, a verdict Democrats may seize upon to counter Donald Trump’s claim of a justice system weaponized against him.
Following a trial in Wilmington, Delaware, federal court, a 12-member jury unanimously found Hunter Biden guilty on all three counts leveled against him, thereby becoming the first offspring of a sitting US president to be convicted of a crime.
The verdict was delivered with Hunter Biden showing minimal reaction, aside from a slight nod of acknowledgment. He then exchanged embraces with members of his legal team, including his lawyer Abbe Lowell.
While no date has been set for sentencing, the typical timeline for such proceedings falls within 120 days, potentially placing the sentencing just a month prior to the highly anticipated November 5 US presidential election.
Sentencing guidelines for the gun-related charges range from 15 to 21 months, although legal experts suggest that defendants in comparable cases often receive shorter sentences, particularly if they adhere to the terms of their pretrial release.
The trial’s conclusion comes against the backdrop of President Donald Trump’s recent criminal conviction, marking the first time a former US president has been found guilty of a crime. Trump has accused Democrats of orchestrating legal proceedings against him in an effort to impede his potential return to power.
In response, Congressional Democrats have pointed to cases such as the Hunter Biden prosecution as evidence of President Joe Biden’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, reaffirming his previous statement that he would not pardon his son if found guilty.
The case against Hunter Biden was spearheaded by US Department of Justice Special Counsel David Weiss, a Trump appointee, who has also brought forth additional charges against Hunter Biden in California, alleging tax evasion totaling $1.4 million.
During the trial, prosecution witnesses, including Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, former girlfriend, and sister-in-law, provided firsthand accounts of his struggles with addiction, which prosecutors argued influenced his actions in purchasing the firearm unlawfully.
The defense countered by presenting testimony from Hunter Biden’s daughter, Naomi Biden, who attested to her father’s apparent stability during the period surrounding the gun purchase.
