CNN
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A federal jury convicted Hunter Biden of all three federal felony firearms charges he faced, concluding that he violated laws banning drug addicts from possessing firearms.
While his father’s crimes were committed before Joe Biden was president, his conviction marks the first time a member of the president’s close family has been convicted of a crime while his father was in office.
After deliberating for just under three hours, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all three charges stemming from Hunter Biden’s purchase of a revolver from a Delaware gun shop in October 2018. The first two charges were for lying about drug use on a federal background check, and the third was for possessing a firearm while under the influence or use of illegal drugs.
Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000 if convicted, but as a first-time offender, he will likely receive much less than the maximum. Before dismissing the charges against both defendants, the judge said the sentence would likely be handed down before Election Day, since it is usually set to be within 120 days of conviction.
Special Counsel David Weiss told reporters the convictions were the result of “defendants making unlawful choices while struggling with addiction,” and stressed that “no one in this country is above the law.”
Hunter Biden said in a statement that he was “disappointed by the outcome” but encouraged by the support he had received from his family.
“Rather than being disappointed by the outcome, I am grateful for the love and support I’ve received over the last week from Melissa, my family, friends and the community,” Hunter Biden said. “Recovery is possible by God’s grace, and I am grateful to experience that grace one day at a time.”
In a statement, President Biden said he “accepts the outcome of this case” and pledged support for his son.
“As I said last week, I am president, but I am also a father,” the president said. “Jill and I love our son and are so proud of the man he has become. Many families who have had a loved one battle addiction understand the sense of pride they feel seeing their loved one overcome challenges and become stronger and more resilient. As I said last week, I accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers his appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of his family with our love and support, no matter what.”
01:37 – Source: CNN
CNN reporter describes what happened inside the courtroom after Hunter Biden’s guilty verdict
The verdict marks the end of a painful chapter for the Biden family, including many members who were directly involved in the courtroom drama. Hunter Biden sat in the dock. Many family members, including first lady Jill Biden, showed their support in court and several were called to testify.
The First Lady arrived at the courthouse just after the verdict was read. She looked straight ahead and never looked away. After the trial ended, Hunter Biden turned to his defense team, flashed a brief smile, perhaps surprised by the outcome, and then hugged all of his lawyers and patted them on the back.
Hunter Biden kissed and hugged family and friends in the courtroom as he left, resembling a reception line. Friend and donor Kevin Morris walked arm-in-arm as he left. Some supporters looked stunned.
President Biden’s sister, Valerie Biden, entered the courtroom minutes after the verdict was read.
As he left the court after the verdict, Hunter Biden held hands with his wife and escorted his family into the elevator, smiling faintly as he left.
The trial is playing out against the backdrop of President Biden’s reelection campaign against former President Donald Trump, who was convicted of felony crimes in a hush money trial in New York last month. Following Hunter Biden’s conviction, the Trump campaign initially wished him “success in his recovery and legal matters,” but later denied that sentiment in a statement. It also called the trial a “distraction from the real crimes of the Biden crime family” and falsely claims the president made “tens of millions of dollars” in overseas deals, although there is no evidence that Joe Biden received significant funds from China or became wealthy as a result of his son’s overseas business dealings.
Hunter Biden’s conviction came after a lengthy Justice Department investigation that began in 2018 and raises the importance of his second trial, scheduled for September, on federal tax charges.
Both cases are being handled by Weiss, who was appointed by President Trump to serve as the US attorney in Delaware. The gun convictions are major acquittals for Weiss’s prosecution team, which has vigorously denied claims by Hunter Biden’s lawyers that the attacks were politically motivated.
The historic trial almost didn’t happen: The two sides stood before a judge last July with an agreement to settle the gun case and have Hunter Biden plead guilty to two counts of tax evasion. But Judge Mary Ellen Noreika did not approve the deal after a hectic plea hearing in which the finer points of the deal crumbled under scrutiny.
President Biden and the White House have repeatedly denied granting a pardon to his son.
The week-long gun trial featured deeply personal and heartbreaking testimony about Hunter Biden’s well-publicized struggles with alcoholism and cocaine addiction. The trial drew national attention during a period of “complete and utter debauchery” that Hunter Biden described in his book as “doing nothing but drinking and using drugs.”
Prosecutors relied on testimony from three of Hunter Biden’s former partners — including the star witness, Hallie Biden, the widow of his brother Beau Biden — to detail to jurors how Hunter Biden’s addiction to crack cocaine led to the end of his marriage, strained his relationship with his children and repeatedly put him at risk.
Hunter Biden’s defense team unsuccessfully argued that he did not consider himself a gun user or addict at the time he purchased and possessed guns, and his lawyer, Abe Lowell, had urged the jury to acquit Hunter Biden on that basis.
This story has been updated to reflect additional developments and reactions.
CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz, Paula Reid and Kit Maher contributed to this report.
