Wilmington, Delaware – Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, to charges of lying about his drug use on a form he filled out to purchase a handgun in 2018. This is the first time that a child of a sitting U.S. president has been federally prosecuted.
The charges against Biden stem from a purchase he made at a gun shop in Wilmington, Delaware, in October 2018. On the federal firearms application, Biden falsely answered “no” to the question of whether he was an unlawful user of controlled substances. He also falsely answered “no” to the question of whether he had ever been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor that resulted in a domestic violence conviction.
Biden has admitted that he struggled with drug addiction in the past, but he has said that he is now sober. He has also said that he does not believe that he lied on the gun purchase form and that he intends to fight the charges.
The case has been the subject of intense political scrutiny, with Republicans accusing the Biden administration of politicizing the justice system and Democrats accusing Republicans of trying to weaponize the case for political purposes.
In July 2022, Biden reached a plea deal with prosecutors, agreeing to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges and avoid prosecution on gun charges. However, the plea deal collapsed after a federal judge expressed concerns about a provision that would have provided Biden a degree of immunity from further charges.
In August 2022, Biden was indicted on three felony gun charges. He faces up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines if convicted.
The trial is scheduled to begin in March 2024.
From Hunter Biden himself:
“I did not lie on the gun purchase form.”
“I have never been an unlawful user of controlled substances.”
“I am innocent of these charges, and I intend to fight them.”
From Stephen Hunter, a firearms expert and former FBI agent:
“It is common for people to lie on gun purchase forms, but that it is rare for them to be prosecuted for it.”
“The case against Biden is likely to be difficult to prove, as prosecutors will need to show that he intentionally lied on the form.”
From Mark Cohen, a former federal prosecutor who now represents drug users:
“The case against Biden is ‘overreach’ by the Justice Department.”
“Prosecutors are unlikely to be able to prove that Biden was an unlawful drug user at the time he purchased the gun.”
From Susan Collins, a Republican senator from Maine:
“I am concerned about the political implications of the case.”
“I hope that the Justice Department will handle the case fairly and impartially.”
In conclusion, the case against Hunter Biden is a significant one, both legally and politically. If Biden is convicted, it would be a major setback for his father’s presidency. However, the case is still ongoing, and it is too early to say what the outcome will be.
The case raises a number of important questions about the law, including the scope of the statute of limitations for gun charges and the definition of an “unlawful user of controlled substances.” It also raises questions about the role of politics in the justice system.
The trial is scheduled to begin in March 2024, and it is likely to be one of the most closely watched cases of the year. The outcome of the case will have significant implications for Hunter Biden, his family, and the Biden administration.