The trial for Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, on charges of illegal gun possession has begun. This trial occurs shortly after Donald Trump, Biden’s rival in the upcoming November election, received a guilty verdict in a trial concerning “hush-money” allegations. This situation puts Biden at a judicial risk.
According to the New York Times (NYT) and other sources on the 3rd, Hunter, Biden’s second son, attended the trial held at the federal court in Wilmington, Delaware. First Lady Jill Biden and Melissa Cohen Biden, Hunter’s wife, were at the trial.
Hunter was indicted last September by special counsel David Weiss. In the U.S., it is legally prohibited for drug addicts to purchase firearms, and Hunter is accused of buying guns after using drugs.
The prosecution filed three felony charges against him: lying to a federally licensed firearms dealer, making false claims on a federal firearms application used to screen buyers, and illegally possessing a firearm between October 12 and 23, 2018.
If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison and a fine of $750,000. However, it is uncommon for a first-time offender, especially one who has not used a weapon violently, to receive a heavy sentence. Hunter’s side is claiming innocence.
Once the selection of 12 jurors is completed in this trial, the prosecution and defense will begin their statements the following day, with the trial will proceed for about 2-3 weeks. A verdict will be made after the jury’s decision.
In a statement released after the start of the trial, Biden said, “I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength.”
Biden, who spent the past weekend with his family, including Hunter, pledged his continued support, saying, “Our family has been through a lot together, and Jill and I are going to continue to be there for Hunter and our family with our love and support.”
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