Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, has been found guilty on all three charges in his federal gun trial, making him the first son of a sitting president to be criminally convicted. The verdict was reached by a panel of 12 Delaware jurors after about three hours of deliberations.
During the reading of the verdict, Hunter Biden showed little emotion, staring ahead with arms folded before turning to hug some of his legal team associates. He faced charges related to lying about his drug use on a federal background check and possessing a gun while addicted to or using drugs.
After the verdict was read, Hunter Biden kissed and embraced his wife before being escorted out of the courtroom by Secret Service agents. In a statement, he expressed disappointment with the outcome but gratitude for the support he received from his family, friends, and community.
President Joe Biden, who was addressing a gun control conference in Washington DC at the time, later greeted his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchild on the tarmac in Wilmington. He expressed pride in his son’s efforts to overcome addiction and stated that he would respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.
The conviction comes at a politically sensitive time for President Biden, who is facing a tight race for re-election against Donald Trump. While some Republicans viewed the verdict as a step towards accountability, others, including former President Trump, dismissed it as a distraction from the “real crimes” of the Biden family.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles are far from over, as he also faces charges in a separate case for evading taxes while allegedly spending millions on drugs, escorts, and luxury cars. That trial is set to take place in September.
