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."

Hunter Biden appeared stunned when the verdict was read, showing absolutely no reaction when the first "guilty" was announced.

Then, he nodded "yes" as the word guilty was read for a second time. He nodded once more when the third one was read.

Hunter Biden then immediately he turned to those around him. He patted his attorney Abbe Lowell on the back and hugged one of his paralegals, and when the jury left, he smiled as he hugged his lawyer again.

He then turned to his family, moving into the gallery where he hugged his wife and gave her a kiss.

After the reading of the verdict, Hunter Biden left court holding hands with his stepmother, first lady Jill Biden, and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden.

His aunt and uncle, Valerie Biden and James Biden, were also at the courthouse on Tuesday.

Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison, though legal experts believe he would not serve time as a first-time and nonviolent offender.

ABC News chief legal affairs anchor Dan Abrams said that while it's unlikely he will serve time, "the judge will have a lot of discretion."

"This is technically a very serious crime with a very serious potential sentence," Abrams said.

President Joe Biden told ABC News last week that he would not pardon his son. But the president also has the option to commute the sentence, Abrams noted.

In September 2023, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre ruled out a commutation of any sentence.

President Joe Biden said he would not pardon his son Hunter Biden during an exclusive interview with ABC News anchor David Muir last week.

Muir asked President Biden on Thursday if he would accept the outcome of his son's trial, to which the president said, "Yes."

The president also said "yes" when asked by Muir if he would rule out a pardon for Hunter Biden.

Hunter Biden came to court today with what appears to be the largest number of friends and family members yet to appear at his trial.

The first row of the gallery was so packed with members of the Biden family this morning that the security guard on the end nearly fell off. The entire first three rows and some of the fourth row were filled with friends and family members -- about 25 in total.

First Lady Jill Biden, her daughter Ashley Biden, and Hunter Biden's wife Melissa Cohen Biden sat together in the front row, with Ashley Biden at one point comforting the others by putting her arm around her mother and then patting Melissa Biden's back.

Through the morning's lengthy sidebars and delays, Hunter Biden repeatedly engaged with them, chatting with them and exchanging hugs when he could.

When the defense rested its case, he stood up and hugged his uncle James Biden in the front row and appeared to say, "Love you."

After another break, he returned to the courtroom holding the first lady's hand.

Family members returned to the courtroom after the lunch break for closing arguments.