Hunter Biden has been found guilty on all three felony gun charges involving his purchase in 2018 of a Colt double-action revolver by a Wilmington, Delaware jury, making him liable for up to 25 years in prison and a $750,000 fine, while the Associated Press notes that first-time offenders rarely draw maximum sentences.
Biden, the son of President Joe Biden—who is on record saying he will not offer a pardon—bought the gun and lied on a federal Form 4473 when he claimed he was not a drug user at a time he is known to have been a heavy user.
But the president’s promise came last week, prior to the Tuesday verdict.
Moments after the verdict was announced, President Biden issued a statement, quoted by Fox News:
“As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today.
“So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery. As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.
“Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.”
The younger Biden had the handgun for more than a week. The gun was thrown in a dumpster near a school by Hallie Biden, widow of Beau Biden, Hunter’s late brother, after she found it in his car, according to USA Today. The revolver, a .38 Special Colt Cobra, was recovered.
The case has been under a political microscope since charges were first brought against the younger Biden. American gun owners have maintained that he should be held to the same standards as any other citizen who gave false answers on a 4473 form.
The Washington Post is reporting Hunter Biden showed no emotion as the verdict was read. He hugged each member of his defense team and thanked them. He then left the courtroom.
The trial lasted a week, and during that courtroom drama, it was finally confirmed that the infamous laptop said to belong to Hunter Biden was, in fact, his computer. Liberal pundits and broadcasters had maintained it was part of a “Russian hoax.”
The trial happened because a 2023 plea deal literally fell apart when Judge Maryellen Noreika rejected it last July.
Hunter Biden still faces more criminal charges involving an alleged failure to pay some $1.4 million in “self-assessed taxes from 2016 through 2019,” according to USA Today. He allegedly also filed a false tax return for 2018.
Judge Noreika reportedly did not immediately set a date for sentencing.
