Hunter Biden verdict: Biden vows to respect jury's decision
"Biden Promises To Honor Son's Gun Trial Guilty Verdict"
Bernd Debusmann Jr, a reporter for BBC News, is currently covering a court case in Delaware alongside colleague Max Matza.
Joe Biden, currently holding the US Presidential office, has stated his compliance with the jury's verdict in finding his son guilty of charges relating to gun crimes. This follows a trial lasting one week and has highlighted a turbulent period for the family.
The 12 individuals on the jury have determined that Hunter Biden, who is 54 years old, lied on a form about his drug usage when acquiring a handgun back in 2018. As a result of the verdict, he could potentially be imprisoned. This is significant as it is the first time a child of a currently serving president has faced criminal prosecution.
He was found guilty of three major offenses, which happens as President Biden is running for re-election in November. It is also less than a fortnight after Donald Trump, who is competing against Biden in the election, was also convicted of an offense in New York.
Even though he didn't show up in court in Delaware, President Biden's family members, including First Lady Jill Biden, attended the trial consistently. Hunter Biden's spouse, sibling, and other relative were also there on occasion to give him their backing throughout the process.
Following the verdict, President Biden traveled by air to Wilmington, Delaware, where he received his son with greetings and embraced him on the landing platform.
As the leader of the country, I have a tremendous responsibility. However, like any other parent, my wife Jill and I adore our son and are thrilled with the individual he has become. Recently, a case involving our son has arisen, and I want to make it clear that I fully acknowledge the ruling and will abide by the legal proceedings. I support Hunter's decision to consider an appeal, and I will continue to remain attentive and respectful of the judicial process.
The son of President Biden was recently on trial. The case revealed some shameful information that prosecutors argued proved he purchased a gun while under the influence of crack cocaine. Despite this, the President has already stated that he will not pardon his son.
During the trial, Hunter Biden's ex-spouse Kathleen Buhle and past romantic partner Zoe Kestan gave accounts of his regular drug use that negatively impacted his loved ones. The court was also presented with text messages that displayed his addiction, as well as pictures, including some showing a partially disrobed Hunter.
The decision made on Tuesday immediately sparked a response from the political realm, including Republican members of Congress who have dedicated time to examining Hunter Biden's actions and affiliations in the business world.
The chairman of the House oversight committee, James Comer, who is a member of the Republican party, believes that this is a positive move towards being held responsible. He did mention, however, that all parties involved in what he referred to as the corrupt acts of The Bidens’ should be thoroughly looked into.
The Trump campaign made a statement stating that the trial was just a distraction from the actual crimes committed by the Biden Crime Family. This is not the first time the former president has used this term, as he has mentioned it before during his campaign, where Republicans have accused the president and his son of engaging in improper behavior.
Democratic Congress members criticized their Republican counterparts for being hypocritical and commended the American justice system.
During a hearing, Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, suggested analyzing and differentiating how the Republicans and Democrats responded to a particular situation.
Regarding Trump's legal conviction, he remarked that the Republicans are assaulting our complete justice system and lawful principles because they oppose the outcome of a single case. Meanwhile, the president's son is undergoing prosecution, yet no Democrat has raised any objections.
In court, Hunter Biden was observed by a BBC reporter as responding to the verdict.
In the meantime, various jurors who found Hunter Biden guilty have stated that politics did not play a role in their verdict. One juror expressed to the BBC that they never once considered President Joe Biden while making their decision.
He added that none of the jurors brought up any political reasons for their decision.
President Biden's associates have informed American media channels that the trial and decision have had a profound effect on Mr. Biden. He has been closely following the case and has been emotionally affected by it.
According to Politico, Mr. Biden had been extremely focused on the trial for several weeks and stayed informed with updates from his family even during his trip to France for the D-Day anniversary events.
The news source additionally reported that Mr. Biden has experienced some remorse regarding the attention that has been directed towards his son and thinks that his own career in politics has had a role to play in his son's legal troubles.
Based on the report by the Washington Post, some of the president's advisors have shown hesitation in discussing his son with him, while others have attempted to minimize the public visibility of Hunter Biden.
It has been reported that Hunter Biden will receive a sentencing within the next 120 days. The judge responsible for overseeing the case has not yet determined a date for the hearing. If found guilty, Hunter could possibly face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. However, many legal professionals believe that this outcome is not likely since he has no previous criminal records and did not commit a violent crime.
He will have ongoing legal problems for this year and during his father's run for office. During September, he will have to go to trial in California for not paying $1.4 million (£1.1 million) in income taxes.
If found guilty in that instance, Hunter Biden might encounter imprisonment for a maximum of 17 years.
Residents of New York City are giving their opinions about the recent conviction of Hunter Biden. Many are sharing their thoughts on social media platforms and in conversations with others. Some are surprised and disappointed, while others feel that the verdict was justified. The topic has sparked a lot of conversation in the city and beyond.