Hunter Biden, son of US president, convicted of illegal possession of firearm

He theoretically faces up to 25 years behind bars, but an alternative sentence to prison could also be decided.

After two weeks of debate, Joe Biden’s son was found guilty in federal criminal court of illegal possession of a firearm. The announcement of the verdict, Tuesday June 11, comes as Joe Biden is due to give a speech on limiting the proliferation of firearms. Lawyer and businessman turned artist, Hunter Biden, 54, was on trial for lying about his drug use when he bought a Colt Cobra type revolver in a gun store in 2018.

The jury of 12 people at the Wilmington court in Delaware (east coast of the United States) answered yes to the three counts: two on lies in the documents necessary for the purchase of a revolver in October 2018 and a third on his illegal detention. The lawyer for the president’s son, Abbe Lowell, for his part assured the jurors that“he no longer used drugs” when he bought the gun, which “was never, ever loaded, carried or used during the 11 days it was in his possession.”

Hunter Biden theoretically faces up to 25 years in prison, but an alternative sentence to prison could also be decided. This is the first criminal conviction against a child of a sitting president.

After the announcement of the verdict, the President of the United States and father of the accused, Joe Biden, said in a statement that he “would accept the outcome” of the trial against his son Hunter and that he “would continue to respect the legal process.” “Jill [Biden, la Première dame] and I will always be there for Hunter (…). This will never change”again assured the American president, repeating that he “loved” his son and that he was “proud” from him.

Less than five months before the November 5 election, the Biden couple showed their support for Hunter, like Jill Biden kissing him in the courtroom and Joe Biden who expressed his support for Hunter. “endless Love”. The trial revived the memory of Hunter Biden’s addictions, to which the prosecution returned in detail.

After this trial in Delaware, Hunter Biden must also appear in California in September for tax fraud.