In a historic development, Hunter Biden, the son of the sitting US President, faces indictment on three federal gun charges. This marks the first instance of the child of a sitting president being criminally prosecuted, BBC reports.
The charges stem from allegations that Mr. Biden, aged 53, provided false information on firearm purchase forms regarding his drug use while buying a Colt Cobra Special revolver at a Delaware gun store in October 2018. Specifically, he is accused of falsely claiming that he was “not an unlawful user of and addicted to any stimulant narcotic drug.” At the time of the purchase, Mr. Biden was known to be a heavy user of crack cocaine.
Under US federal laws, it is a criminal offense to provide inaccurate information on such documentation or to possess a firearm while using illegal drugs. If convicted, Mr. Biden could face a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, as stated by the Justice Department. However, actual sentences for federal crimes often fall short of the maximum penalties.
The timing and location of Mr. Biden’s initial court appearance remain uncertain. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, has suggested that these charges are the result of “Republicans’ improper and partisan interference in this process.” Lowell maintains that his client did not break the law and that his temporary possession of an unloaded firearm posed no threat to public safety.
Cornell Law School professor Randy Zellin believes that Mr. Biden is unlikely to serve prison time and anticipates a plea agreement. Zellin characterizes the case as “nonsense” since it involved no harm to anyone and is essentially a victimless crime. Hunter Biden has no prior criminal record.
In June, a two-part agreement was negotiated between prosecutors and Mr. Biden’s legal team, which ultimately fell apart. This agreement would have led to two misdemeanor tax-related charges for late tax payments in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, Hunter Biden would have admitted to illegal firearm possession, agreed to drug treatment and monitoring, and thus avoided a felony charge and potential imprisonment.
These charges come as the result of the first actions taken by Justice Department special counsel Davis Weiss, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August. Weiss had previously indicated his intention to indict Hunter Biden by September 29.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles have become a subject of political debate, especially with his father seeking re-election as President. It is worth noting that Hunter Biden has never held a position in the White House or his father’s administration.
This development also comes on the heels of an impeachment inquiry announced by Republicans in the US House of Representatives against President Biden. Allegations against the President include claims that he lied about his involvement in his son’s business dealings during his tenure as Vice President from 2009 to 2017. Additionally, two tax investigators have asserted that the Justice Department obstructed their investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax returns, although the department denies these allegations.
On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, who is leading the indictment inquiry, expressed his views on the charges against Hunter Biden, stating that they represent only a “very small start.” He called for a comprehensive investigation into all parties involved in alleged fraud schemes and influence peddling, suggesting that this would reveal whether President Biden’s Department of Justice is protecting Hunter Biden and others involved.
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