Federal prosecutors charged Hunter Biden, son of the President, with firearms-related offenses and alleged false statements in a bombshell indictment on Thursday. The charges stem from his purchase of a handgun in 2018, raising the prospect of a trial coinciding with his father’s re-election campaign.
The gun-related charges hinge on whether Mr. Biden lied on a federal government form when purchasing a .38 handgun in Delaware in 2018. He had denied drug use on the form, which prosecutors now claim was false, despite Mr. Biden’s public struggles with addiction to crack cocaine and alcohol at the time.
The federal grand jury indictment in Wilmington, Del., charges Mr. Biden with three felonies, including lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the federal firearms application, and illegal possession of the gun for 11 days in 2018.
If convicted, Mr. Biden faces potential penalties of up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines. However, first-time, nonviolent offenders who haven’t used the weapon in another crime usually receive lighter sentences.
Mr. Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, contends that the indictment should be dismissed, alleging that the lead prosecutor, David C. Weiss, succumbed to political pressure from Trump supporters who criticized the earlier plea agreement as a “sweetheart deal.”The decision to file charges against President Biden’s son is an extraordinary move for the Justice Department, led by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. This action came after a previous deal to resolve the investigation without prison time for Mr. Biden fell apart.
The investigation also involves scrutiny of Mr. Biden’s international business activities, including his work with Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, and investment deals in China. However, House Republicans’ efforts to find evidence justifying President Biden’s impeachment remain largely inconclusive.
The firearm incident occurred after President Biden left the vice presidency and before announcing his 2020 presidential candidacy. Hunter Biden’s lawyers argue that the charges may be invalidated due to constitutional concerns about the government’s imposition of certain conditions on firearms purchases.
David C. Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware, filed the gun charges in Delaware but has the authority to file tax-related charges in other jurisdictions where Mr. Biden lived during the period when he failed to file his tax returns on time.
The long-running investigation into Hunter Biden seemed to conclude this summer with a plea deal, but it unraveled during a federal court hearing. The deal’s ambiguity, especially regarding insulation against further prosecution related to foreign business dealings, led to its collapse.
The indictment, unsealed on Thursday, was not unexpected, as Mr. Weiss had indicated his intention to bring gun charges by the end of the month earlier this September.
The Hunter Biden investigation has been a focal point for House Republicans and former President Trump. Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced plans for a formal impeachment investigation, but the charges currently brought against Mr. Biden are narrower than anticipated.
While the situation remains fluid, Hunter Biden continues to maintain his sobriety and cooperate with a federal probation officer, according to sources familiar with his actions.
