Shortly after a jury found Hunter Biden guilty on three felony charges related to illegal firearm possession, President Joe Biden released a statement showing support for his son and affirming that he would accept the outcome.
“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,” the president said in a statement.
“As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad,” he said in a written statement, praising his son for his “resilient” recovery from addiction. “Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today.”
“I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal,” the president added.
The first lady arrived at the Wilmington, Delaware, courthouse after the verdict was read and was seen holding hands with her stepson as they exited the building. They did not speak to reporters.
The younger Biden said, in a written statement, that he was disappointed by the outcome but grateful for the support of family and friends. His attorney said he plans to “continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available.”
Mr. Biden became the first son or daughter of a sitting president to face a federal trial and conviction when, on June 11, a jury convicted him of three felony charges related to a Colt Cobra revolver he purchased in October 2018. Those charges were lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application by saying he was not a drug user, and illegally possessing the gun for 11 days.
Mr. Biden faces up to 25 years in prison: 10 years for the first count, five years for the second, and another 10 years for the third count. The specific sentencing will be decided by Judge Maryellen Noreika, who noted that the sentencing could be 120 days out.
President Biden had previously ruled out pardoning his son if he was convicted.
President’s Gun Speech
The verdict came hours before President Biden was scheduled to address a crowd of people at Gun Sense University, an annual training conference held by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington, to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the signing of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act gun control legislation.
A last-minute change to the president’s schedule was announced shortly before he was due to arrive at the event. After giving his remarks, he would make his way to Wilmington instead of the White House.
Prosecutors said Mr. Biden had a crack cocaine addiction during the time he acquired the weapon and was accused of lying to the federally licensed gun story by illegally claiming on his application that he was not a drug user when he bought it. He was then accused of unlawfully possessing the gun for 11 days.
The defense, on the contrary, argued that since Mr. Biden did not consider himself an addict when he purchased the gun, he did not “knowingly” lie on the gun application form when he checked “no” when asked if he was a drug addict.
The trial took a week, with testimony from Mr. Biden’s ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan, sister-in-law and ex-romantic partner Hallie Biden, daughter Naomi Biden, expert witnesses, the gun store owner and the clerk who sold the gun to Mr. Biden, and the man who found the gun in the trash.
The jury deliberated for three hours, starting with one hour on June 10 before reconvening the next morning.
Jacob Burg and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
From The Epoch Times