WILMINGTON, Delaware — Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, was found guilty on Tuesday of three felony charges related to his purchase of a handgun in 2018.
This marks the first time a sitting U.S. president’s child has been convicted in a criminal trial, however, President Biden has stated he will not pardon his son.
The jury, composed of six men and six women, delivered a unanimous verdict after three hours of deliberation.
Hunter Biden, 54, could face a maximum prison sentence of 25 years, but as a first-time offender with non-violent charges, he is more likely to receive a significantly lighter sentence, potentially as little as two years or even probation.
The sentencing will be determined by Judge Maryellen Noreika in the coming months.
The charges stem from Biden’s purchase of a Colt revolver at a Wilmington gun shop in October 2018.
At the time, Biden was struggling with addiction to crack cocaine.
Prosecutors alleged that Biden falsely claimed on the purchase paperwork that he was not using illegal drugs.
The law prohibits drug users from owning firearms and lying on gun purchase forms.
Biden held the gun for 11 days before his brother’s widow, Hallie Biden, discovered it and discarded it in a trash can outside a grocery store.
A man later found the gun and turned it over to the police.
The trial, which began on June 3, featured testimony from three of Biden’s former romantic partners about his drug use in 2018.
The defense called Biden’s daughter, Naomi Biden, who testified about his condition around the time he bought the gun.
However, during cross-examination, prosecutors highlighted text messages between Biden and his daughter that suggested ongoing struggles.
Hunter Biden’s legal team plans to appeal the conviction, arguing that the federal law barring drug users from owning guns is unconstitutional under recent Supreme Court rulings.
The verdict arrives just weeks before the first presidential debate on June 27, adding another layer of complexity to an already tumultuous campaign season.