A mere three hours after beginning deliberations, federal jurors in the Hunter Biden trial returned with a guilty verdict. The President’s son was accused of three firearms related charges carrying a sentence of up to 25 years in prison and a $750,000 fine. Sentencing is expected in the next 120 days, meaning it will likely happen prior to the November 5 election.
The emotional trial included testimony concerning Hunter Biden’s addiction and drug use. In a statement, President Biden expressed support for his son but said he would respect the verdict.
This is the first time that a child of a sitting President has been convicted of a felony.
Indicted in September by special counsel David Weiss, Hunter has also been investigated and charged by the IRS for tax evasion and has been implicated in money laundering and selling access while his father Joe Biden served as Vice President. Congressional testimony has shown repeated interference in these investigations by federal officials.
Significant pieces of evidence in this trial included Hunter Biden’s autobiography and the “laptop from hell” that he abandoned at a computer repair shop in Delaware. The laptop contained videos, texts, emails, and other documents that revealed not only drug, prostitution, and firearms activity, but also implicated then Vice-President Joe Biden in financial schemes involving the Ukraine and China.
Originally called “Russian disinformation,” by Joe Biden during the Presidential debates, members of the intelligence community attempted to discredit the laptop and social media platforms suppressed the story. However, prosecutors were able to verify contents and entered its contents into evidence.One conservative organization quickly pointed out that the firearms conviction conveniently side-steps any of Hunter Biden’s alleged more serious crimes that involve his father or federal corruption. House Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., continues to pursue investigations and criminal referrals related to influence peddling between Hunter and Joe Biden.
