Hunter Biden Found Guilty on Three Felony Gun Charges
Hunter Biden, 2024. Photo: X/ @kfdmnews
June 11, 2024 Hour: 12:43 pm
He probably won’t receive any prison time. However, he may have to pay a fine of up to US$750,000 for each charge.
On Tuesday, a jury in Delaware found Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden, guilty of three charges related to gun possession, for hiding his drug addiction during the purchase. The federal charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
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The trial began just over a week ago in Wilmington and included testimonies from his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, his sister-in-law Hallie Biden (with whom Hunter had a relationship), and his daughter Naomi Biden.
In the verdict, the jury found Hunter Biden guilty of all three charges against him and concluded that he was using illegal drugs when he purchased a revolver and lied in two statements (two counts of false declaration) and illegally possessed the firearm (third count).
Two of the charges could result in a maximum of 10 years in prison, and the third charge could result in five years. Additionally, he may have to pay a fine of up to $750,000 for each charge. As this is his first conviction and he has no prior record, it is most likely that Hunter Biden will not receive any prison time.
Before District Judge Maryellen Noreika called the jury members to deliberate, Hunter Biden’s defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, summarized his final argument by insisting that there was no direct evidence that his client was using drugs around the time he purchased the revolver.
During the trial, President Biden did not attend the court proceedings, but First Lady Jill Biden was present on key dates, along with Hunter’s wife, Melissa Cohen-Biden, and his sister Ashley Biden.
Hunter is the son of the president’s first wife, the late Neilia Biden. He was found guilty of lying in October 2018 when he did not disclose his drug use on a form to purchase a .38 caliber Colt Cobra revolver, which he then kept for 11 days without using.
The charges against Hunter Biden are the result of an investigation that began in 2018 during the administration of Donald Trump (2017-2021). President Biden’s son is also facing another trial in California, where he is accused of evading the payment of US$1.4 million in taxes.
Sources: EFE
teleSUR/JF
