Hunter Biden trial: President changes his schedule to be with his son after guilty verdict
After three hours of deliberations, the jury convicted the president’s son on all charges
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.President Joe Biden flew to Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday to be with his son Hunter Biden after a jury convicted him on three federal gun charges.
Hours after the verdict, the White House Press Office announced that the president’s schedule had changed and that he would head hometown. Later that afternoon, Biden landed in Delaware – greeting his son, daughter-in-law and grandson on the tarmac.
Hunter was charged with two counts of making false statements and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm for obtaining a gun in October 2018 while he was addicted to crack cocaine.
The president has already said he will not pardon his son but issued a statement saying he and first lady Jill Biden love and support their son and are proud of his resilience in recovery.
Throughout Hunter’s federal gun charges trial, members of the Biden family flocked to the courthouse to show their support for the defendant.
On Tuesday evening, CNN aired a montage comparing and contrasting the very different reaction of Fox News hosts to the criminal convictions of Donald Trump and the younger Biden at their respective trials.
Recap: Hallie Biden testifies about complicated relationship with Hunter
Hallie, the widow of Hunter’s brother Beau Biden, testified that she has known Hunter since middle school, adding that their relationship began in late 2015 or early 2016 following the death of her husband.
She agreed it was sometimes “intense” but always “complicated.”
She began her testimony on Thursday by saying that she initially found crack cocaine in her house in Wilmington, Delaware, the city where the trial is taking place. She had to google it to understand what it was but Hunter also didn’t deny it, instead telling her what it was.
Hallie testified she saw Hunter use drugs in Washington, DC, and was also present for him buying drugs, which she said ranged in size from smaller than a marble to larger than a ping pong ball. She added that she saw his behavior change, that he became “agitated” and “high-strung” but also that he was “functioning.”
“This can’t go on, we can’t do this,” she texted him, telling the court that Hunter was often in denial about his substance abuse.
“Leave me alone, I’m fine, I’ll figure it out my way,” he replied.
Crack and alcohol were both “issues” during the relationship, Hallie testified.
She also spoke of her drug use which began after she was introduced to crack cocaine by Hunter.
“It was a terrible experience, I’m ashamed and I regret that period of my life,” she said on Thursday.
Verdict reached
The jury in Hunter Biden’s federal gun charges trial has reached a verdict.
Hunter Biden enters court with wife and family
Hunter Biden is in the federal building in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, his aunt, Valerie Biden Owens, and uncle James Biden.
Hunter Biden found guilty
Hunter Biden has been convicted on all three felony gun charges.
Sentencing set for later date
Judge Maryellen Noreika, who presided over the case, said she would set Hunter Biden’s sentencing date at a later time.
The charges carry a maximum sentencing of 15 years and $750,000 in fines. It unlikely Biden will face jail time as a first-time nonviolent offender.
Watch live: Jury finds Hunter Biden guilty on all three counts in gun trial
Live: Jury finds Hunter Biden guilty on all three counts in gun trial
Watch live from outside court in Wilmington, Delaware, after the jury in Hunter Biden's trial on criminal gun charges finds him guilty on all three counts.Su...
First Lady misses verdict reading
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden missed the verdict reading by minutes.
So far, she has attended nearly every day of Hunter’s trial – only missing it to travel to France with her husband to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The first lady arrived at the courthouse just after 11:20 a.m.
Hunter Biden leaves court without speaking
Hunter Biden, the president’s son, left the federal building in Wilmington, Delaware without speaking to the press.
After the guilty verdict was read, Biden got into a car with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, and drove off.
Inside the courtroom as the verdict was read
As Hunter Biden heard the jury’s decision to convict him on all three federal gun charges, he stared straight ahead showing little to no emotion.
Biden nodded his head a bit while remaining extremely still.
Afterward, he hugged members of his team, seemingly eager to leave the courthouse.
Hunter Biden prosecutor says ‘ugly’ evidence was ‘necessary’
The defense and the prosecution painted two starkly different pictures of Hunter Biden’s 2018 gun purchase during closing arguments on Monday.
Lawyers for Biden outlined a story of a recovering addict who genuinely believed he was on the mend when he checked a box saying that he wasn’t an active user of illicit drugs on a form to buy a firearm on 12 October 2018.
Meanwhile, the prosecution argued that Biden was well aware that he was an addict and an active drug user when he bought the 38 Colt Special at StarQuest Shooters and Survival Supply in Wilmington.