By Lee Williams
SAF Investigative Journalism Project
OPINION: Miracle Star Vaughn, a 27-year-old woman from North Liberty, Iowa, was sentenced last week to serve one year and a day in a federal prison after pleading guilty to making false statements during the purchase of several firearms, according to an ATF press release.
Vaughn lied about her drug use on an ATF Form 4473, court documents show. Two of the firearms she purchased were later found in the possession of convicted felons, one of whom is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Vaughn’s 366-day prison sentence was the product of a plea agreement. After she completes her prison term, she must serve an additional three years of supervised release.
The false statements Vaughn made about her drug use are similar to the false statement Hunter Biden allegedly made on Oct. 12, 2018, when he answered “No” on an ATF Form 4473, when asked “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?”
Hunter Biden’s drug usage is well known and well documented, especially by him. The president’s son enjoyed taking pictures of himself smoking crack cocaine and cavorting with prostitutes while brandishing a handgun. Several years before he allegedly lied on the ATF form, Hunter Biden was booted out of the Navy Reserve after testing positive for cocaine, and both he and his father have spoken openly about his crack cocaine addiction.
Lying on a Form 4473 is a federal felony and could be punishable by up to 10 years in prison, even for a president’s son.
At the time of his pistol purchase, Hunter Biden was living in Delaware and dating Hallie Biden, the widow of his late brother, Beau. Police have said Hallie became concerned about Hunter’s mental health after he purchased the weapon. She allegedly placed the pistol in a plastic bag and tossed it in a dumpster behind a high-end grocery store, which is across the street from the Alexis I. du Pont High School, and could have easily been found and misused by a child.
The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service became involved in the incident, but the full extent of their participation is not known. David Weiss, the U.S. Attorney for Delaware, has been investigating Hunter Biden’s firearm purchase and other alleged crimes for more than five years, but so far no charges have been filed.
Takeaways
This case further illustrates how federal agents are more than willing to act like medieval palace guards rather than professional law enforcement officers if a Biden is involved.
Hunter Biden should be subjected to the same standard of justice that Miracle Star Vaughn received, if not more. After all, the 53-year-old unemployed drug addict is a negligent discharge just waiting to happen. His own videos show him holding a cocked 9mm Beretta with his finger on the trigger, after smoking crack in a motel room with naked prostitutes. It’s only a matter of time before Hunter puts a round in someone.
If the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the Department of Justice or the U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware want to retain even the smallest shred of credibility, they need to follow the law, not the politics, and take enforcement action, regardless of whether the one with the smoking pipe or the smoking gun is a president’s son.
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