Wednesday Briefing: Hunter Biden Found Guilty on Gun Charges

Hunter Biden with Jill Biden, the first lady, and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden.Credit…Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times

Hunter Biden was found guilty on gun charges

Hunter Biden, the president’s son, was found guilty on three felony counts of lying on a federal firearms application. The verdict is a personal blow to President Biden as he enters the final months of his re-election campaign.

The maximum possible sentence could be up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines. But sentencing guidelines call for a fraction of that penalty, and first-time offenders who did not use their weapons to commit a violent crime typically receive no jail time. No sentencing date was set. Here’s some background on the charges.

Biden’s gun case is widely regarded as the least serious of the two federal indictments brought against him last year. He still faces serious tax charges stemming from his yearslong crack, alcohol and spending binge.

Context: The trial made public Biden’s crack cocaine addiction, reckless behavior and ruinous spending — narrated by three former romantic partners, including the widow of his brother, Beau Biden.

The president’s reaction: Biden said he and the first lady, Jill Biden, were proud to see Hunter Biden be “so strong and resilient in recovery.” The president has said that he will not grant a pardon to his son.