Hunter Biden found guilty of lying about drug addiction to buy gun

A Delaware jury found Hunter Biden guilty on all three counts in his federal gun trial, the first time the son of a sitting U.S. president has been criminally convicted.

Prosecutors had alleged that Biden, 54, lied about his drug use on a federal form when he purchased a handgun in 2018.

Biden had pleaded not guilty, saying he was recovering from drug addiction at the time and therefore did not lie on the gun application form.

A panel of 12 Delaware jurors deliberated for about three hours before returning their verdict.

Biden showed little emotion while reading the guilty verdicts. He looked ahead with his arms crossed before turning to hug some of the associates on his legal team.

He was convicted of three counts: making a false statement to acquire a firearm, making a false statement to obtain records and unlawful possession of a firearm.

After court adjourned, he hugged and kissed his wife before leaving the room, escorted by Secret Service agents.

While several members of Biden’s family have been in court in recent days, on Tuesday there were only two members in the room: his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, and James Biden, his uncle and brother of US President Joe Biden.

President Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, arrived in the courthouse lobby minutes after the verdict was read, according to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.

The judge told the court Tuesday that Biden’s sentencing date would be set at a later date.

Sentencing usually occurs within 120 days of conviction.

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