Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, faces federal charges related to the purchase of a firearm without disclosing alleged drug use. The indictment comes in the wake of a collapsed plea deal from July, in which Hunter Biden had agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax crimes and a firearms violation. However, the deal fell apart when a federal judge raised concerns and refused to approve it, leading to further legal complications.
The ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden's activities is being conducted by Special Counsel David Weiss, who has been granted extensive powers, including the examination of potential foreign lobbying and business dealings in Ukraine and China. Additional charges are being considered, including tax violations in California and Washington, D.C., although the current indictment, filed in federal court in Delaware, does not involve tax-related allegations.
Hunter Biden faces three charges connected to his purchase of a Colt revolver in October 2018. He is alleged to have falsely stated on a form that he was not an "unlawful user of, and addicted to, any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance." If convicted, these felonies carry sentences of five to ten years in prison.
The indictment of Hunter Biden raises the possibility of a trial coinciding with next year's presidential race, likely becoming a political weapon used by former President Donald Trump and conservatives in their pursuit to regain the White House. House Republicans have already initiated an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden, primarily focusing on Hunter's business dealings.
Hunter Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, has not yet provided a response to the charges, and both the Department of Justice and the White House have declined to comment. The appointment of Special Counsel David Weiss in August aimed to ensure impartiality by removing him from day-to-day oversight by Biden administration officials. This move was deemed necessary due to the "extraordinary circumstances" of the investigation, according to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
When the plea deal disintegrated, prosecutors also withdrew the tax-related charges, citing jurisdictional issues in Delaware. As of the latest update, no new cases have been filed against Hunter Biden in Washington or central California, where the Justice Department had previously indicated potential indictments.
Despite his readiness to plead guilty to the tax and firearm offenses, Hunter Biden has consistently denied any additional wrongdoing. During the ongoing criminal investigation, he took a proactive stance by pursuing civil claims related to the release of his personal data and sending a cease-and-desist letter to former President Trump regarding public statements made about him.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, faces his legal challenges, including multiple indictments in four separate cases, some involving alleged conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents.