Hunter Biden found guilty of lying about drug use when buying firearm

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Hunter Biden found guilty of lying about drug use when buying firearm

The US President's son has been found guilty of lying about his drug use when buying a firearm but despite his conviction, Joe Biden has vowed to always support him.

Hunter Biden was charged in federal court in Wilmington with three felony counts tied to possession of a gun while using narcotics in October 2018. He had pleaded not guilty.

He acknowledged struggling with addiction to crack cocaine, according to the indictment filed in federal court in Delaware.

Jury deliberations began on Monday following a weeklong trial and he was found guilty on three felony gun charges. The jury deliberated for just under three hours delivering their verdict on Tuesday.

The first two counts were for lying about his drug use on a federal background check form, and the third count was for possessing a gun while addicted to, or using, illegal drugs.

The conviction marks the first time a president’s immediate family member has been found guilty of a crime during their father’s term in office, though his crimes predate Mr Biden’s tenure as president.

After the jury's decision was announced, President Joe Biden said he would accept the outcome of the case and “will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.”

“Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that,” the president said in a statement.

Hunter did not testify during the trial and the jury were told they aren’t allowed to hold that decision against him in their deliberations.

During the trial, the jury heard personal details about Hunter's well-known struggles with alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction.

Prosecutors leaned on the testimony of three of Hunter's ex-partners – including Hallie Biden, widow of his brother Beau Biden – to tell the jury how his dependency on crack cocaine led to the end of his marriage, strained his relationships with his kids, and put him in danger on several occasions.

Hunter's defense team argued, unsuccessfully, that he didn’t actually view himself as a user or addict when he bought and possessed the gun.

Two of the counts carry maximum prison sentences of 10 years. The third has a maximum of five years. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

In a written statement following the verdict, he said he was "disappointed" by the outcome but "grateful" for the support of family and friends. His attorney said they will “continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available.”

President Biden and the White House have repeatedly ruled out a pardon for his son.

[bilateralrope]

The Republican reaction:

Republicans push conspiracy theories after Hunter Biden verdict: ‘A fake trial’

Rightwing politicians repeat unfounded theories that gun trial verdict is a ‘distraction’ from worse Biden crimes

Robert Tait
Tue 11 Jun 2024 20.14 BST

Republicans responded to Hunter Biden’s conviction on Tuesday of lying about his drug use to buy a gun by doubling down on conspiracy theories that many senior party figures have been using to try and damage his president father.

Despite the fact that Joe Biden’s son could now face a hefty jail sentence, Donald Trump’s election campaign and its surrogates repeated unfounded attack lines that the conviction was part of a conspiracy to deflect attention from more serious crimes and represented the use of the Department of Justice (DoJ) as a political weapon.

Republicans have long sought to use Hunter Biden’s woes and business dealings as a political weapon against Biden, ignoring the fact that Trump himself is also now a convicted felon whose own business empire has been fined hundreds of millions of dollars for fraudulent practises.

That tactic continued in the wake of Hunter’s guilty verdict.

“This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine,” the Trump campaign said in a statement.

Matt Gaetz, the far-right congressman from Florida, was distinctly dismissive, posting on X: “The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh.”

That was echoed by Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, who derided the conviction as a distraction from worse crimes he claimed have been committed by the president’s family.

“Hunter Biden guilty. Yawn,” Kirk wrote. “The true crimes of the Biden Crime Family remain untouched. This is a fake trial trying to make the Justice system appear ‘balanced.’ Don’t fall for it.”

Nancy Mace, a Republican congresswoman for South Carolina, implied that the verdict was a sham. “Timing is everything. The veil of fairness in the justice system under Potus,” she wrote.

Stephen Miller, one of Donald Trump’s closest advisers during his first presidency, went further still, posting: “[The] DoJ is running election interference for Joe Biden – that’s why DOJ did NOT charge Hunter with being an unregistered foreign agent (FARA) or any crime connected with foreign corruption. Why? Because all the evidence would lead back to JOE.”

The negative drumbeat underscored how the prosecution – and now conviction – of Hunter Biden has undermined a Republican narrative that the justice department has been “weaponised” by Biden’s administration to pursue a vendetta against Trump, who was last month convicted of 34 counts of document falsification to conceal hush-money payments to an adult actor.

Trump’s case was led by a New York state prosecutor, who does not work under the department’s jurisdiction, while Hunter Biden was prosecuted by the DoJ, which is part of his father’s administration.

James Comer, the chair of the House of Representatives’ oversight committee, was more measured in calling the verdict “a step toward accountability”.

But he, too, implied that it was the tip of the iceberg, saying justice would not be done “until the Department of Justice investigates everyone involved in the Bidens’ corrupt influence-peddling schemes”.

Further reducing the volume of the Republican reaction is the fact that the conviction was secured on charges of illegal gun ownership – an issue on which Republicans favor far more relaxed laws than Democrats.

Hunter Biden faces separate charges in California of tax evasion to the tune of $1.4m. But Republicans have also alleged – but so far failed to provide evidence – that his former connection to the Ukrainian state oil company Burisma profited his father. The allegations have fuelled a thus-far fruitless impeachment inquiry.

Joe Biden himself greeted his son’s new status as a convicted felon gravely, saying he would accept the outcome and the judicial process while his son considers an appeal.

“So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery,” Biden said.

Seems they will take any excuse to complain.

[LadyTevar]

This is my whole opinion.

He's been found guilty. Ok, put him in jail for however many months lying on a gun application is supposed to give you and drop it.

[Dark Hellion]

This is my whole opinion.

He's been found guilty. Ok, put him in jail for however many months lying on a gun application is supposed to give you and drop it.

There isn't even a clear precedence for sentencing because non-violent offenders are basically never charged with this, but a first time offender with no history of violence would usually be given probation. That's not even going into the fact that this specific felony charge is being challenged in federal appeals court and has been ruled unconstitutional by an admittedly crazy Texas judge.

This was what the Republicans blew a huge amount of money and political capital on. An offence that would likely see a max of 6 months in prison if you got a hanging judge and may literally be ruled unconstitutional and thrown out because 2nd amendment shall not be infringed bullshit. All because everyone knew Donny was guilty and would get hit with some kind of felony conviction so they needed to level the playing field.

[bilateralrope]

It sounds like Hunter has some options for his appeal. Selective prosecution and unconstitutionality.

[LadyTevar]

There isn't even a clear precedence for sentencing because non-violent offenders are basically never charged with this, but a first time offender with no history of violence would usually be given probation. That's not even going into the fact that this specific felony charge is being challenged in federal appeals court and has been ruled unconstitutional by an admittedly crazy Texas judge.

Wait What?
I'd not heard this part, could you give me some more info on this bit?

[Dark Hellion]

https://www.reuters.com/legal/drug-user ... 023-08-10/

[LadyTevar]

https://www.reuters.com/legal/drug-user ... 023-08-10/

Innnnnteresting. Biden could possibly appeal under that, yes.
Or he can take his lumps like a man and let the whole thing die politicially. Hard choice.

[bilateralrope]

When is the sentencing ?

I ask because I'm not expecting any decision on an appeal until Hunter knows what sentence he's looking at.

[PainRack]

https://www.reuters.com/legal/drug-user ... 023-08-10/

Innnnnteresting. Biden could possibly appeal under that, yes.
Or he can take his lumps like a man and let the whole thing die politicially. Hard choice.

Someone on X joked that the Democrats should write a Hunter Law specifically closing this potential loophole and other gun control measures that Hunter Biden might appeal on just to screw with Republicans


A real life
https://youtu.be/B46km4V0CMY?si=Ld4L1J80XY_jPGZ5

[EnterpriseSovereign]

President Biden pardons son, Hunter Biden

President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he has pardoned his son Hunter Biden, who faced sentencing this month for firearms offences and tax evasion.

The pardon comes less than two months before President Biden leaves office.

The President and his White House spokesperson had previously said he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence in the two cases against Hunter Biden.

Days after Donald Trump won the 2024 election, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre ruled out a pardon or clemency for Hunter Biden, saying, "We’ve been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no."

In an interview in June with ABC News, President Biden said he did not intend to pardon his son.

President-elect Donald Trump cannot rescind this official grant of clemency.

Donald Trump criticised Joe Biden on his Truth Social platform, "Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!"

In a statement on Sunday, President Biden said "Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted."

Biden continued to say the charges in the cases came after his political opponents in Congress "instigated them to attack me and oppose my election".

"There has been an effort to break Hunter – who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution".

The President concluded his statement: "I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision."

Hunter Biden had two legal cases against him; in June, he was convicted of three gun charges by a jury in Delaware and then September pleaded guilty to tax offences in California.

The trial in Delaware marked the first criminal prosecution of a sitting US president's child.

Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.

Hunter Biden was set to be sentenced on 12th December, and 16th December.

Hunter Biden had been recently spotted holidaying with President Biden, and Dr Jill Biden in Nantucket over the Thanksgiving period.

According to the Associated Press, Hunter Biden said in an emailed statement that he would not take for granted the relief given to him, and vowed to devote his life "to helping those who are still sick and suffering."

He went on to say, "I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction – mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport".

[Ralin]

Sounds legit. Correcting miscarriages of justice is part of why the president has the pardon power and he gave them ample chance to not make a farce out of it.

[Raw Shark]

Sounds legit. Correcting miscarriages of justice is part of why the president has the pardon power and he gave them ample chance to not make a farce out of it.

Facts. If anybody else did what Hunter did, the same folks would've been screaming about the 2nd Amendment.

[bilateralrope]

If Trump's DOJ tries to challenge this as a corrupt pardon, SCOTUS is going to have a hard time finding a way to cancel it without also limiting Trump's ability to make corrupt pardons. But if they allow Hunter Biden's pardon to stand, Trump will be unhappy with them.

[Tribble]

If Trump's DOJ tries to challenge this as a corrupt pardon, SCOTUS is going to have a hard time finding a way to cancel it without also limiting Trump's ability to make corrupt pardons. But if they allow Hunter Biden's pardon to stand, Trump will be unhappy with them.

Alas, this is Republican Scotus. All they have to do is make up something such as Biden was doing an unofficial acts as president and therefore his pardons are cancelled, while Trump was doing official acts as president and therefore his pardons will stand.

It’s not like legal precedent or even the constitution matters with this court, unless it benefits Republicans. When you’re openly corrupt AF, the law says what you want it to say, and you’re only limited by your imagination.

[bilateralrope]

Alas, this is Republican Scotus. All they have to do is make up something such as Biden was doing an unofficial acts as president and therefore his pardons are cancelled, while Trump was doing official acts as president and therefore his pardons will stand.

It’s not like legal precedent or even the constitution matters with this court, unless it benefits Republicans. When you’re openly corrupt AF, the law says what you want it to say, and you’re only limited by your imagination.

Possibly. But they won't be able to issue clear rules on what exactly counts as a legit pardon without admitting that they only care about who issued the pardon. Opening every single pardon up to being challenged in court. With no clear rules, those pardon cases will make their way up to SCOTUS. Getting in the way of the rest of their agenda, even if all they do is vote to not hear the pardon cases.

Do SCOTUS favor Trump or their own agenda ?

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Alas, this is Republican Scotus. All they have to do is make up something such as Biden was doing an unofficial acts as president and therefore his pardons are cancelled, while Trump was doing official acts as president and therefore his pardons will stand.

It’s not like legal precedent or even the constitution matters with this court, unless it benefits Republicans. When you’re openly corrupt AF, the law says what you want it to say, and you’re only limited by your imagination.

Possibly. But they won't be able to issue clear rules on what exactly counts as a legit pardon without admitting that they only care about who issued the pardon. Opening every single pardon up to being challenged in court. With no clear rules, those pardon cases will make their way up to SCOTUS. Getting in the way of the rest of their agenda, even if all they do is vote to not hear the pardon cases.

Do SCOTUS favor Trump or their own agenda ?

If they vote not to hear them, what happens to the cases?

[bilateralrope]

If they vote not to hear them, what happens to the cases?

The same thing that happens every time a court refuses to hear an appeal. The ruling of the lower court stands.

[Tribble]

If they vote not to hear them, what happens to the cases?

The same thing that happens every time a court refuses to hear an appeal. The ruling of the lower court stands.

It would be precedent within it’s jurisdiction and at least persuasive elsewhere IIRC.

[Solauren]

I think Biden did this as a fuck you to the Republicans.

Think about it. If they find a way to revoke this pardon, they run the risk that it can be applied to every Pardon that's been done.
That removes any 'get out of jail' cards they might be hoping for.

[Ralin]

I personally think he did it because he loves his son.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Probably a bit of both, helping his son while flipping off the opposition, two birds with one stone.

[Ralin]

It also pushes back against the precedent that if you take office as a Democrat the Republicans will use the legal system to hound your family members to ruin and suicide if they find the slightest pretext. Which seems well within the bounds of things the president should be concerned about.

[bilateralrope]

If they vote not to hear them, what happens to the cases?

The same thing that happens every time a court refuses to hear an appeal. The ruling of the lower court stands.

It would be precedent within it’s jurisdiction and at least persuasive elsewhere IIRC.

Until different circuits make different rulings. Those conflicting rulings are exactly the kind of situation SCOTUS is supposed to resolve.

But resolving it requires them to write a ruling for lower courts to follow.

[Ubiquitous]

I doubt this goes any further. Joe Biden is yesterday's news. The HB scandal was ultimately a political tool to beat President Biden with. Now that 46 is no longer relevant, this whole story goes away.

That said I don't think it does Biden's political legacy any favours. But as a father protecting his son; fair play. We'd probably all do the same.