Hunter Biden was found guilty of three felonies today in his Delaware gun crimes trial.
The Wilmington, Delaware jury unanimously voted to convict Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden of two counts of lying on a federal form to buy a gun, and one count of possessing the firearm while abusing drugs.
The historic conviction marks the first time a current President’s child has been found guilty of a felony.
Hunter Biden nodded slowly with resignation as the guilty verdict was read out.
After the jury left he hugged his attorneys, kissed his wife Melissa who gave him a tight smile, and left the room, a convicted felon.
Jill Biden showed up at the courthouse, but was too late to sit in the room as the jury gave their verdict.
The First Lady accompanied Hunter and Melissa as the left the courthouse.
He will now await Judge Maryellen Noreika to decide on a sentence for the crimes, which could be as high as 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine – though the typical sentence is much lower.
The judge said that sentencing dates are usually discussed ‘20 days out’ from a conviction.
The smiling prosecutors said they had no comment.
Jurors reached their historic verdict after just three hours of deliberation – one yesterday and two today before reaching their verdict at 11am Tuesday.
Hunter’s attorney Abbe Lowell confirmed in court that he would be pursuing his challenges to the conviction.
These include a Second Amendment challenge, that the charges violate Hunter’s constitutional right to bear arms.
Some convicts of his offenses do not get any jail time. In a recent sentence for similar crimes, Judge Noreika gave another defendant one year in federal prison.
The court’s probation office will now compile a presentence investigation report, which will include information the judge will use to weigh up his sentence.
Judge Noreika is not required to follow sentencing guidelines, but cannot give more than legal maximum sentence.
Hunter’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, has already filed motions objecting to the case on various grounds, and previously indicated that he will be appealing any conviction.
He argues there is a Second Amendment challenge to the conviction, and that Congress effectively repealed one of the statutes that Hunter was charged under when they updated it in 2022, nullifying his conviction.
Even convicts who are ultimately incarcerated, can remain out of prison for several months or more while they await sentencing, or with their case tied up in appeals.
Hunter’s former business partner Devon Archer was convicted of a $60 million fraud on a Native American tribe in 2018, and is yet to step inside a prison cell due to legal wrangling.
If Hunter is in prison during the November 2024 presidential election, he will not be able to vote for his father.
In California, where Hunter lives, felons who are currently incarcerated cannot vote.
The jury began their deliberations on Monday shortly after 3.30pm.
They broke for the day at 4.30pm and resumed weighing the case at 9am on Tuesday.
The felon First Son’s legal troubles are far from over.
In September he faces a tax crimes trial from the same prosecutors, Leo Wise and Derek Hines, who are working for Special Counsel David Weiss.
He is accused of nine charges, including three felony counts and six misdemeanors, of tax evasion, failure to file and pay his taxes, and filing a fraudulent tax return.
The charges span the tax years 2016 to 2019, and are considered more severe than his gun crimes.
His financial backer, Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, has said he is running out of money to fund Hunter’s top legal team for the case.
And his defense will be further complicated if he is fighting it from inside a federal prison.
Legal pundits have pointed to a recent sentencing decision by Judge Noreika as a potential barometer for Hunter’s sentence.
He is accused of nine charges, including three felony counts and six misdemeanors, of tax evasion, failure to file and pay his taxes, and filing a fraudulent tax return.
The charges span the tax years 2016 to 2019, and are considered more severe than his gun crimes.
His financial backer, Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, has said he is running out of money to fund Hunter’s top legal team for the case.
And his defense will be further complicated if he is fighting it from inside a federal prison.
Legal pundits have pointed to a recent sentencing decision by Judge Noreika as a potential barometer for Hunter’s sentence.