The son of US President Biden is on trial for allegedly concealing his drug addiction when purchasing a weapon in 2018. A verdict could soon be announced.
A verdict could soon be imminent in the criminal trial against US President’s son Hunter Biden for alleged violations of gun laws. The jury withdrew in Wilmington, US federal state, for initial deliberations. These are to continue today. In the trial, Hunter Biden is accused of making false statements when purchasing a gun in October 2018 and of concealing his drug addiction at the time. The trial was a political burden for US President Joe Biden. A conviction of his son is likely to put the Democrat under further pressure in the middle of the election campaign.
If convicted, Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison. However, it is unclear to what extent the judge in charge would push the maximum sentence in this case, as the 54-year-old has no previous convictions. It is not yet clear when the verdict will be reached. The deliberations of the twelve jurors could drag on for several days. The jury’s verdict must be unanimous. If the jury is unable to reach such a result, the trial could collapse.
According to US media, the defense called on the jury during its closing argument to acquit the 54-year-old, who had pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, on the other hand, said that the evidence against Hunter Biden was “overwhelming,” wrote the Washington Post. If this does not show that Biden was a crack addict in 2018 when he bought the gun, “then no one is a crack addict,” the newspaper quoted prosecutor Derek Hines as saying.
Hunter’s family shows solidarity
A lot of dirty laundry was washed during the trial. In addition to Hunter Biden’s daughter Naomi, former partners also testified. The questioning shed light on the drug addiction of the president’s son, which he himself made public in his autobiography. However, he denies having been addicted to drugs when he bought the gun.
The son of the US President has been making headlines for years – in addition to alcohol and drug addiction, there have also been shady business deals and legal disputes with an ex-stripper over child support for an illegitimate child. At the beginning of December, he was also charged in the state of California for allegedly not paying federal taxes properly for several years.
During the weapons trial in Wilmington, US President Joe Biden himself did not come into the courtroom. However, various other family members showed solidarity – such as First Lady Jill Biden, Hunter’s stepmother. She even interrupted her joint visit to France with President Biden and jetted several thousand kilometers across the Atlantic to appear in court in person. The fact that a First Lady appears in a courtroom as a moral support for days is just as unusual as the charges against the President’s son himself.
The son as a burden in the election campaign
US President Biden wants to run for a second term in the presidential election in November. His son’s legal and other problems offer political scope for attack. Last week he announced that he would not pardon his son if he were convicted. This statement contrasts with the behavior of his predecessor, Donald Trump. The Republican presidential candidate has hinted that he wants to reverse convictions if he wins the election.
In New York, however – where he has already been found guilty of illegal campaign financing – he would not be able to do so, as this is not a federal case. The sentence has yet to be announced. Trump is still facing further charges – for attempted election fraud and taking secret government documents. The proceedings in these cases have not yet begun.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
