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

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

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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Hunter Biden unlikely to serve time, expert says

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 Biden said he wouldn't pardon son

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.


No sentencing date set

Hunter Biden sat expressionless as a court officer read the jury’s verdict form aloud to the court. After the third "guilty" rang over the courtroom speakers, he turned and hugged a member of his legal team and remained seated until jurors stood to leave.

Prosecutors Leo Wise and Derek Hines sat equally motionless throughout the short proceeding.

After Judge Maryellen Noreika excused jurors, she said she would get back in touch with the parties to schedule a sentencing date in the next 120 days. 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.


Hunter Biden found guilty on all 3 counts

President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has been found guilty on all three counts in his federal gun case.

He stands convicted of two counts related to false statements in purchasing the firearm at the center of the case, for saying on a federal gun-purchase form that he was not addicted to drugs at the time of the purchase, and a third count of illegally obtaining a firearm while addicted to drugs.


Trial was 'waste of taxpayers' dollars,' juror tells ABC News

A member of the jury that found Hunter Biden guilty told ABC News after the verdict that the trial was a "waste of taxpayers' dollars."

"I just think he needs help. He needs rehab," the juror told ABC News regarding the defendant. "In my opinion, this is a waste of taxpayers' dollars. They should have fined him."

Asked what she thinks a fair sentence would be, the juror said, "I don't think that anyone who is a nonviolent drug addict should be in prison. Just fine him. We know he did something wrong. Just fine him. He needs help."

She said the jurors "worked together really well."

"Considering who his father is and the political climate in this country, it turned out better than I expected," she said. "There was no fighting in the jury room."

Judge Maryellen Noreika said before court ended that she would schedule a sentencing date in the next 120 days. Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison, though legal experts believe he will not serve time as a first-time and nonviolent offender.

-ABC News' Mark Guarino