Hunter Biden trial: 'Politics never came into play,' juror says after guilty verdict

The president's son was convicted of unlawfully purchasing a firearm.

Last Updated: June 11, 2024, 12:36 PM EDT

President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has been found guilty on three felony counts related to his purchase of a firearm in 2018 while allegedly addicted to drugs.

The younger Biden, who pleaded not guilty last October after being indicted by special counsel David Weiss, denied the charges. The son of a sitting president had never before faced a criminal trial.

The trial came on the heels of former President Donald Trump's conviction on felony charges related to a hush money payment made to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

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Jun 11, 2024, 12:29 PM EDT

Hunter Biden says he's more grateful than disappointed

Hunter Biden said in a statement after the verdict that he's "more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome," referencing his wife Melissa Cohen Biden.

"Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time," he said.

First lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, joined by his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, leave the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 11, 2024 in Wilmington, Del.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Hunter Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement, "We are naturally disappointed by today's verdict. We respect the jury process, and as we have done throughout this case, we will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter."

Jun 11, 2024, 12:27 PM EDT

3 counts are for gun possession, false statements

The three felony counts on which Hunter Biden was convicted -- all related to his purchase of a firearm in 2018 while allegedly addicted to drugs -- are as follows:

Count 1: False statement in purchase of a firearm.

Count 2: False statement related to information required to be kept by federal firearms licensed dealer.

Count 3: Possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.

Jun 11, 2024, 12:05 PM EDT

'Jill and I will always be there for Hunter,' President Biden says

President Joe Biden said in a statement after the verdict, "As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today."

"So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery," he said.

A television monitor shows the verdict in the Hunter Biden trial in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C, June 11, 2024.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

"As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal," the president said. "Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that."

Jun 11, 2024, 11:54 AM EDT

Trial followed dramatic unraveling of plea deal

In July 2023, a plea deal struck between Hunter Biden and prosecutors that could have precluded this week's trial dramatically fell apart amid the judge's concerns over the terms of the agreement.

For the better part of three hours, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika scrutinized nearly every facet of the plea deal. Noreika acknowledged that her probing threw "a little bit of a curveball" into the proceeding.

Hunter Biden had originally agreed to a pretrial diversion on the gun charges, with the charges being dropped if he adhered to certain terms. He had also agreed to acknowledge his failure to pay taxes on income he received in 2017 and 2018. In exchange, prosecutors would have recommended probation on those charges.

Democrats had hailed the deal as a sign of accountability while Republicans panned the details as a "sweetheart deal."

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