Hunter Biden, the son of the President of the USA, is found guilty of 3 criminal offenses

2024-06-12 08:32:13, Kosova & Bota CNA

Hunter Biden, the son of the President of the USA, is found guilty of 3 criminal

President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. Source, AP

President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three felony counts related to a 2018 gun purchase when prosecutors say he lied on a gun purchase form, saying he was not a drug user or addicted. from drugs.

US President Joe Biden, through a statement after the decision, said that he and the First Lady will always stand by their son "with our love and support." He said he will respect the jury's decision and will continue to respect the court process while his son considers appealing the decision.

"Many families whose loved ones have faced drug addiction understand the sense of pride in seeing their loved ones overcome challenges and show strength and determination during recovery," the statement said.

President Biden said he is going to Delaware to be with his son.

The jury found Mr. Biden guilty of making false claims on a gun purchase form and unlawful possession of a gun for 11 days.

In a statement after the guilty plea, Hunter Biden thanked family and friends for their support, but expressed disappointment with the verdict.

"The gratitude I feel today for the love and support during this to Melissa, my family, friends and community, is greater than the disappointment of the decision," he said. "Withdrawal from addiction is possible with God's blessing and I am blessed to experience this gift every day."

As the jury's verdict was delivered, Mr. Hunter Biden looked on without reaction. Afterwards, he hugged his lawyers and barely smiled. He kissed his wife, Melissa, with whom he left the court together.

Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said that "of course we are disappointed" by the decision to find Mr. Biden guilty. But through a statement, attorney Lowell said his team will respect the process and use all legal options to challenge the decision.

The reaction of the Republicans was swift and their tone was different.

Lawmaker James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, which has been investigating President Biden's family for the past two years, said that while the decision marks "a step toward accountability," there will be no justice " until the Justice Department investigates. " everyone involved in the corrupt schemes of the Biden family.”

Hunter Biden faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, but first-time offenders are not given such severe sentences. It is unclear whether the judge in the case, Maryellen Noreika, will sentence him to prison.

Hunter Biden and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, President Joe Biden's main political rival, have been found guilty by juries this election year.

President Biden has stayed away from the trial in Delaware and has spoken very little about the case, careful not to create the impression that he is interfering in a criminal case brought by his administration's Justice Department. But all of his allies are worried about the impact this trial — and now his guilty plea — will have on the 81-year-old president, who has long struggled with health problems and drug and alcohol addiction. of his son.

Both Mr. Hunter Biden and Mr. Trump have said that they are victims of the politics of the moment. But while Mr. Trump has continued to make baseless claims that his sentence was "fabricated," Joe Biden declared that he will accept the results of the verdict and will not pardon his son.

Mr. Hunter Biden's legal challenges do not end there. In September, he faces a trial in California on charges that he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes, and Republican lawmakers have said they will continue to investigate him in their efforts to impeach the president. The prosecutors who are investigating Mr. Hunter Biden have not accused President Biden of any violation./ VOA