Hunter Biden Found Guilty of Three Felony Charges

Updated June 11, 2024

• Hunter Biden was found guilty of three felony counts for lying while purchasing a firearm in 2018. The trial, taking place in Wilmington, Del., publicized Hunter Biden's addiction to crack cocaine during the time. 
• The jury found Biden guilty on two counts of making false statements about his drug use while buying a Colt revolver and one count of illegal possession of a firearm while being a drug user.
• Hunter Biden said he was "disappointed" by the verdict but is grateful for the support of his friends and family. Biden could face up to 25 years in prison. However, first-time offenders who did not use their weapons to commit a violent crime often receive no jail time. 
• President Biden said that he and First Lady Jill Biden are proud to see their son be "resilient in recovery" but will not pardon his son. 
• Hunter Biden still faces a tax charges case, also brought by counsel David C. Weiss. The trial is scheduled to start in September.

What's the story?

• U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that Hunter Biden, President Biden's son, will be investigated by a special counsel. 
• Garland said Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who has been investigating criminal allegations against Biden, requested to be special counsel to Garland earlier this week.
• The attorney general said Weiss, a Trump appointee, requested the status after determining that "in his judgment, his investigation has reached a stage at which he should continue his work as Special Counsel."
• The order gives Weiss the authority to "prosecute federal crimes in any federal judicial district arising from the investigation of these matters."

The background

• Earlier this summer, Biden was charged with illegally owning a firearm and two federal tax misdemeanors. He agreed to plead guilty to the three federal offenses, and if convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison on each tax charge along with a maximum of 10 years for the firearm charge. Weiss noted that the sentence would likely be less than the maximum. 
• Read more about Hunter Biden's charges and his collapsed plea deal here.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

How do you feel about the charges?

-Jamie Epstein 

(Photo credit: Flickr/CHAUNCEY I. BROWN III)