Hunter Biden Convicted of Illegally Purchasing Firearm Amid Drug Use

Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, was found guilty by a jury on Tuesday of providing false information about his drug use to illegally purchase a firearm.

This conviction may be used by Democrats to counter former President Donald Trump’s claims of a politically biased justice system targeting him.

A federal jury in Wilmington, Delaware, convicted Hunter Biden on all three counts, making him the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. Each of the 12 jurors had to unanimously agree on each count.

This trial comes after Trump’s own criminal conviction on May 30, marking him as the first former U.S. president to be found guilty of a felony. Trump, a Republican, faces multiple criminal cases as he challenges Joe Biden, a Democrat, in the upcoming November 5 election. He argues that Democrats are using these cases to thwart his bid to regain the presidency.

Democrats, in turn, have cited the Hunter Biden case to demonstrate that President Biden is not manipulating the justice system for political gain. President Biden stated last week that he would not pardon his son if convicted.

The case against Hunter Biden was led by U.S. Department of Justice Special Counsel David Weiss, a Trump appointee. Weiss has also charged Hunter Biden with multiple tax offenses in California, alleging he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 while spending millions on drugs, escorts, luxury cars, and other high-end items. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to these charges, with a trial scheduled for September 5 in Los Angeles.

During the Delaware trial, the prosecution presented testimonies from Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, former girlfriend, and sister-in-law, who described his severe addiction issues during the period he purchased the gun in October 2018. Evidence included text messages, photos, and bank records indicating Hunter Biden’s drug use at the time, which prosecutors argued he intentionally concealed by falsely answering “no” to being a drug user on a federal form.

Hunter Biden’s defense team argued that he was not using drugs at the time of the gun purchase and did not intend to deceive, as he did not see himself as a drug user when filling out the form. His daughter, Naomi Biden, testified that her father appeared to be in good condition when she saw him around the time he bought the gun.

The sentencing guidelines for Hunter Biden’s charges suggest 15 to 21 months in prison, but legal experts note that similar cases often result in shorter sentences or alternative penalties if defendants comply with pretrial release conditions.

(With inputs from agencies)