Versión Español
Spanish.- Washington, June 11 (EFE) – A jury in Delaware has found Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President and re-election candidate Joe Biden, guilty of three crimes related to firearm possession, for concealing his drug addiction during the purchase. The charges, all federal, carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.
The trial began just over a week ago in Wilmington, Delaware, with testimony from his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, his sister-in-law Hallie Biden (with whom Hunter had a relationship), and his daughter Naomi Biden.
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In the verdict, the jury found Biden guilty on all three counts against him, concluding that the president’s son was using illegal drugs when he purchased a revolver and lied on two declarations (two counts of false statement) and was in illegal possession of the weapon (third count).
Two of the charges could carry a maximum of 10 years behind bars, and the third five years. Additionally, he must pay a fine of up to $750,000 for each of them.
As this is the first time he has been found guilty and he has no prior record, experts believe it is likely that Hunter Biden will not receive any prison time.
Before District Judge Maryellen Noreika called the jury members to deliberate, Hunter Biden’s defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, summarized his closing argument by insisting that there is no direct evidence that his client was using drugs in the days close to the date he bought a revolver.
“Hunter has not asked anyone to excuse or forgive him for his mistakes,” he stated.
During the trial, Joe Biden did not attend court, but First Lady Jill Biden was present on key dates and also this Tuesday, along with Hunter’s wife, Melissa Cohen-Biden, and his sister, Ashley Biden.
Hunter Biden is the son of the president’s first wife, the late Neilia Biden, and was found guilty of lying in October 2018 when he did not acknowledge his drug use on a form to purchase a .38 caliber Colt Cobra revolver, which he then kept for 11 days and did not use.
The charges against Hunter Biden are the result of an investigation opened in 2018 during the Trump administration, which the former president and future Republican candidate for the November elections has used to attack his opponent Biden.
The president’s son also faces another trial in California, where he is accused of evading $1.4 million in taxes.
