Delaware jury finds Hunter Biden guilty of lying about drug use while purchasing firearm News
US Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II // Public domain
Delaware jury finds Hunter Biden guilty of lying about drug use while purchasing firearm

A federal jury in Delaware on Tuesday found Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, guilty of lying about his drug use while purchasing a firearm.

The younger Biden was found guilty of three felonies: making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm under 18 U.S.C. §922(a)(6) and 924(a)(2), making a false statement with respect to information to be kept in records under §924(a)(1)(A), and possession of firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance under §922(g)(3) and §924(a)(2).

Prosecutors argued that when Hunter Biden purchased a revolver in October 2018, he made a false statement on a federal form that he was not “an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance.” Biden has spoken publicly about his history of addiction to crack cocaine, documenting his drug use in a 2021 memoir.

Hunter Biden’s lawyers have argued that the charges against the president’s son were politically motivated, claiming that former President Donald Trump and right-wing lawmakers exerted pressure on special counsel David Weiss to bring more felony charges against Biden following a 2023 plea deal that was later thrown out. A judge rejected the defense’s selective prosecution claim in April.

Under the proposed plea deal, Biden would have pleaded guilty to three tax-related misdemeanors and would have a felony gun charge dropped in two years under a diversion agreement if he did not engage in criminal activity. Federal Judge Maryellen Noreika tossed the plea deal after prosecutors and defense counsel could not agree on the scope of the deal or the diversion agreement. As a result, Biden is facing nine federal tax charges, separate from the firearms prosecution.

Following Tuesday’s verdict, US President Joe Biden said that he would “respect the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.”

Hunter Biden’s trial lasted for just over a week, with jury selection beginning June 3. Deliberations began Monday after the defense rested its case.

A sentencing date in the case has not yet been announced.

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