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
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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.
Hunter Biden leaves court holding hands with Jill Biden
Hunter Biden departed from the J Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware holding the hands of his mother, First Lady Jill Biden, and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden.
President Joe Biden releases statement on Hunter’s verdict
“As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery. As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. 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.”
Conservatives complain about Hunter Biden verdict
Several far-right figures on social media complained about the guilty verdict in Hunter Biden’s federal gun charges trial – believing it to be a boring lesser charge.
“The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh,” Florida representative Matt Gaetz wrote on Tuesday.
“Hunter Biden guilty. Yawn. The true crimes of the Biden Crime Family remain untouched. This is a fake trial trying to make the Justice system appear “balanced.” Don’t fall for it,” Charlie Kirk wrote.
Biden was charged with the gun-related counts last year after a plea deal with prosecutors fell through at the last minute. The Justice Department had been investigating Biden for years probing his financial and business dealings.
He is also charged with nine federal tax-related charges in California. That trial is expected to happen in September
Hunter Biden thanks family and friends for support
Hunter Biden says he is more “grateful” for his family and friend’s support over the last week than he is “dissappointed” by the outcome of his federal gun charges trial.
“I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time,” Biden said.
Hunter Biden found guilty of all three charges in historic federal gun trial
After approximately three hours of deliberations, 12 jurors unanimously convicted Biden on all three felony gun charges, a historic decision that marks the first time a sitting president’s child has been found guilty of a crime.
Gustaf Kilander reports from Wilmington, Delaware:
Hunter Biden found guilty of all three charges in historic federal gun trial
Charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years behind bars and fines of up to $750,000
Trump campaign calls trial ‘distraction’ from other crimes
A spokesperson for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign released a statement on Hunter Biden’s verdict, calling the entire trial a “distraction” from other alleged crimes the Biden family has committed.
“This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine. Crooked Joe Biden’s reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit,” Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign National Press Secretary said in a statement.
Read the verdict form in Hunter Biden’s trial
Read the verdict form, the 12-panel jury submitted to convict Hunter Biden on three gun-related charges here.
Hunter Biden attorney says they will pursue ‘all the legal challenges’
Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden’s defense attorney, said in a statement that he plans to “vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter” after a jury convicted him on three federal gun charges.
“We are naturally disappointed by today’s verdict. We respect the jury process, and as we have done throughout this case, we will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter. Through all he has been through in his recovery, including this trial, Hunter has felt grateful for and blessed by the love and support of his family,” Lowell said in the statement.
President Joe Biden to head to Wilmington
President Joe Biden will go to Wilmington, Delaware later this afternoon, presumably to be with his son, Hunter Biden, after a jury convicted him on three federal gun charges.
Hours after the ruling, the president changed his schedule so he visit Delaware to be with his family. First Lady Jill Biden is already in Wilmington as she attended Hunter’s trial.
Special counsel thanks jury for service
Special Counsel David Weiss thanked the jury who sat in and ultimately convicted Hunter Biden on three federal gun-related charges, during a press conference on Tuesday.
“I want to thank the jury for their service. There are few civic responsibilities more important than jury service,” he said.