Hunter Biden Guilty Of 3 Felony Gun Charges

WILMINGTON, Delaware — In a stunning development that sent shockwaves through the political world, Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, was found guilty Tuesday on three felony charges related to his purchase of a handgun in 2018 while struggling with addiction to crack cocaine.

The verdict, delivered by a jury of six men and six women after three hours of deliberation, marks the first time in U.S. history that the child of a sitting president has been convicted in a criminal trial. The president, who has long expressed concern about the impact of his son's legal troubles on his well-being and sobriety, said last week that he would not pardon Hunter.

The charges stemmed from Biden's purchase of a Colt revolver at a Wilmington gun shop in October 2018, a time when he was in the throes of drug addiction. Prosecutors alleged that the 54-year-old lied on a form during the purchase, falsely claiming that he did not use illegal drugs. It is a federal crime for drug users to possess firearms and to lie on gun-purchasing forms.

During the trial, which began on June 3, prosecutors called a series of witnesses, including three of Biden's former romantic partners, who testified about his frequent drug use in 2018. The emotional apex of the trial came on Friday when Naomi Biden, one of Hunter's daughters, took the stand to discuss her father's condition around the time he bought the gun. However, during cross-examination, prosecutors confronted her with text messages that painted a picture of a father struggling with addiction and a daughter deeply concerned about his well-being.

Biden, who declined to testify in his own defense, faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, although as a first-time offender, he is likely to receive a much lighter sentence. He is expected to appeal the conviction.

The verdict comes just weeks before the first presidential debate on June 27, where President Biden will face off against another newly convicted felon, former President Donald Trump. The Trump campaign, which has long attacked Hunter Biden, was largely silent during the trial.