US President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, is set to appear in federal court in Delaware on Tuesday, where he is expected to plead not guilty to charges of unlawfully possessing a handgun. The charges relate to his purchase of a .38-caliber Colt Cobra revolver in 2018, leading to three felony charges. Two counts involve making false statements on forms during the gun purchase, specifically denying illegal drug use at the time. The third charge alleges illegal possession of the firearm, which he owned for just 11 days in October 2018 before disposing of it.
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, has informed the court of his client’s intention to plead not guilty during the 10:00 a.m. arraignment at a federal courthouse in Wilmington, the Biden family’s hometown. Despite a request for Hunter Biden to appear via video due to his residence in California, Judge Christopher Burke denied the request, emphasizing that he should not receive special treatment. In July, a proposed deal with federal prosecutor David Weiss, which would have dropped the gun charges while Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to two tax charges, ultimately collapsed. Subsequently, Weiss filed three felony gun possession charges against Biden. While a theoretical maximum sentence of 25 years in prison is possible if convicted, such offenses, when isolated, often do not result in jail time in practice. Weiss, now serving as special counsel for the Biden probe, has hinted at ongoing investigations into potential tax charges against Hunter Biden, according to AFP reports.
Hunter Biden’s involvement in business dealings in Ukraine and China during his father’s tenure as vice president has been a recurring target of criticism from Republicans. Responding to pressure from the party’s conservative faction, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy authorized an impeachment investigation into President Joe Biden last month.
It’s essential to highlight that Hunter Biden has not faced any criminal charges related to his overseas business activities, and there is no credible evidence suggesting his father’s involvement in any illicit actions. Hunter Biden, a Yale-trained lawyer and former lobbyist turned artist, has grappled with personal challenges, including battles with alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction. These legal issues have the potential to cast a shadow over his father’s reelection campaign in the upcoming year. Despite these challenges, President Joe Biden, at the age of 80, has consistently stood by his only surviving son throughout personal and legal hardships. In a recent interview, the President expressed his trust and faith in Hunter, asserting that his son has “done nothing wrong.” This unwavering support from Joe Biden remains steadfast.