A Delaware jury convicted Hunter Biden offederal gun charges, a historic first for the child of a sitting president, after a trial featuringwrenching emotional testimonyabouthis drug usefrom his ex-wife and sister-in-law.
President Joe Biden's son faces up to25 years in prison for the three charges − lying on a federal screening form about his drug use, lying to a gun dealer and possessing the gun − though first-time, nonviolent offenders typically get shorter sentences.
"Usually when we do sentencing, it is 120 days out, but we will get in touch with you," presiding U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika told Hunter Biden's defense team.
The conviction came aftera plea deal fell apartin July 2023 that could have resolved gun and tax charges without prison time for the 54-year-old businessman, author and attorney. Bidenfaces another federal trialstarting Sept. 5 in California forallegedly avoiding taxes.
Biden's legal troubles coincide with hisfathercampaigning for reelection. But the elder Biden, as the trial kicked off, issued a statement supporting his son and latertold ABC Newshe wouldn't pardon him.
He doubled down on his support for his son after the verdict was read, reminding Americans that while he is the president, he is also a father − and a proud one, when it comes to his son Hunter.
“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," he said. "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.”
Joe Biden ultimately changed his planned schedule to return home to Delaware on Tuesday night to be with his family.
Verdict comes 2 hours into Tuesday's deliberations
It didn't take long for the verdict to be read.
Word that the jury had reached a decision began circulating shortly before 11 a.m. — a little less than two hours after jurors were sent to deliberate that morning.
Reporters filled court benches. U.S. Marshals could be seen escorting the three alternate jurors into the courtroom, then finding a spot for them near the front of the gallery.
Hunter Biden and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, walked into the courtroom at 11:10 a.m. followed by family and his lawyers. Hunter Biden's lead attorney, Abbe Lowell, spoke in the ear of a few of his client's supporters — one of whom sat down looking upset after speaking to the 72-year-old attorney.
Noreika entered the courtroom at 11:14 a.m. and a minute later, the jury's verdict was being read. Hunter Biden, his lawyers and his family stayed motionless as the jury convicted him on all three charges.
By 11:16 a.m., it was over and the judge dismissed the jury. They were asked to go into another room where the judge wanted to thank them for their service. The alternates followed them out of the courtroom.
A woman who served on the jury told Delaware Online/The News Journal that she felt no pressure because the defendant's father is the president, even though they noticed first lady Jill Biden in the courtroom gallery several times.
“I noticed her and her hair,” she said with a smile.
Another juror agreed that politics played no role in any juror's vote.
“It was just following the evidence,” he said. “We just had to find out the truth.”
Both jurors said the jury was evenly split on count one shortly after receiving the case for less than an hour of deliberation Monday afternoon. From there, they studied the elements of the charges in the jury instructions and talked. They deliberated for about two hours on Tuesday before returning guilty verdicts.
Hunter Biden walked out of a conference room at 11:32 a.m. Tuesday followed by his family and friends and entered a waiting elevator. He left the federal building shortly after to a waiting line of black SUVs.
Special counsel David Weiss says Hunter Biden's case was about choices
Special counsel David Weiss, who has been investigating Hunter Biden for years, spoke after the verdict, stressing the prosecution of this case came down to choices.
"While there has been much testimony about the defendant's abuse of drugs and alcohol, ultimately, this case was not just about addiction, a disease that taunts families across the United States, including Hunter Biden," Weiss said at a press conference after the trial. "This case was about the illegal choices the defendant made while in the throes of addiction, his choice to lie on the government form when he bought a gun and the choice to then possess that gun."
He also pointed to accountability, and that no one − not even the president's son − is above the law.
Supporters of the Bidens disputed this case was solely about Hunter Biden lying on a federal form when purchasing a firearm.
If prosecutors were going after people who did this, Richard Smith, NAACPDelawareState Conference of Branches president and a friend of the Bidens, said many of the state's gun-ridden neighborhoods would be cleaned up.
"This case was used for a special reason and that reason was to go after him because he's a Biden," Smith said.
Smith, who said he was speaking as a friend of the Bidens', said he hopes Hunter Biden gets the help he needs and others take something away from this matter.
"I hope that people look at this case and look at him and see that we really need more programs to get people like him the help they need," Smith said.
Defense 'naturally disappointed' by trial outcome
Hunter Biden's defense attorney Abbe Lowell did not address the media outside the federal courthouse but did release a statement about the trial, saying they are “naturally disappointed" by the verdict.
"We respect the jury process, and as we have done throughout this case, we will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter," Lowell said.
Hunter Biden echoed that he is grateful for the support witnessed during the trial, as many family members and local Delaware friends showed up in court for the president's son.
“I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome," he said in a written statement."Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.”
Biden trial followed collapse of plea deal for gun and tax charges
Aplea agreement that fell apart last Julyoffered the possibility Biden could avoid jail time for all of the charges.Noreika rejected the dealbecause of disputes between prosecutors and defense lawyers about Biden’s protection from future charges.
Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed the U.S. attorney in Delaware, David Weiss,a special counselto continue an independent investigation.Biden's lawyer, Abbe Lowell,argued unsuccessfully thecharges should be dismissedbecause no new evidence had emerged since the plea agreement.
The gun indictmentcharged Biden with knowingly deceiving a firearms dealer by buying a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver. He was charged with falsely filling out a federal form denying he was addicted to any narcotics. And he was charged with knowingly possessing the revolver despite the restrictions against people addicted to drugs owning firearms. The three charges carried a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.
The tax indictmentcharges Biden with three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanors. He allegedly engaged in a scheme in which he failed to pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed taxes from 2016 through 2019, and also evaded tax assessment for 2018 when he filed false returns.
The previous agreement would have allowed Biden to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges, which could have resulted in no jail time, and enter a pretrial program for a gun charge that could have been dismissed if he complied.
But Republicans blasted the agreement as a sweetheart deal and Hunter Biden became a lightning rod for criticism of his father.
