Following the guilty verdict for Hunter Biden in a Delaware courtroom, Special Counsel David Weiss of the Department of Justice addressed the public on Tuesday. Weiss, who prosecuted Biden on firearms charges, emphasized the impartiality of the legal process.
According to NBC News on June 11, 2024, federal authorities had charged Hunter Biden with making illegal gun sales and lying on a background check form. The case, tried in Delaware, concluded with the jury finding him guilty on all counts after nearly three hours of deliberation.
“This conviction marks the first time a president’s immediate family member has been found guilty of a crime during their father’s term in office, though his crimes predate Joe Biden’s tenure as president,” CNN reported.
Hunter Biden now faces up to 25 years in prison and fines up to $750,000, though as a first-time offender, he is expected to receive a lesser sentence. First Lady Jill Biden was present at the courthouse shortly after the verdict was read.
Weiss stated, “Everyone must be accountable for their actions, even this defendant. But Hunter Biden should be no more accountable than any other citizen. This case was about illegal choices the defendant made while in the throes of addiction.”
Hunter Biden was found guilty on three counts:
Making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm.
Making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensed dealer.
Possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.
Each count carries substantial maximum sentences, with potential terms of up to 10 years for the first and third counts and up to 5 years for the second count.
President Joe Biden released a statement expressing support for his son, emphasizing his pride in Hunter’s recovery journey. “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,” the president stated. He also reaffirmed his respect for the judicial process and his family’s unwavering support for Hunter.
Former District Attorney Phil Holloway commented on Fox News about the defense strategy, which aimed to evoke sympathy from the jury by highlighting Hunter’s struggles with addiction and the presence of the Biden family in the courtroom. He noted, “The presence of the First Lady, the presence of the rest of the Biden family, all that stuff is there for the jury to see. They’re trying to evoke sympathy. This is in the Biden’s backyard. There’s bound to be people on that jury who have great affection for at least some of the Bidens.”
Despite the strong evidence from the prosecution, Hunter’s daughter Naomi offered some contradictory testimony, describing her father as “the clearest he had ever been since my uncle [Beau Biden] died” during a visit to a Los Angeles rehab in 2018.
As the case progresses to potential appeals, the Biden family continues to navigate the legal and personal challenges stemming from Hunter’s actions.
