Hunter Biden Trial: President's son guilty on all charges in federal gun case
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Updated June 11, 2024, 3:59 PM UTC By NBC News
What to know about Hunter Biden's criminal trial
- Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's only surviving son, was found guilty on all three charges tied to the possession of a gun while using narcotics. The jury reached the verdict after only three hours of deliberation yesterday afternoon and this morning.
- Two of the counts carry maximum prison sentences of 10 years, while the third has a maximum of five years. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika said she will set the sentencing date at a later time.
- The list of those who were called to testify last week includes Hallie Biden, the wife of Hunter Biden's late brother, Beau Biden; Gordon Cleveland, the man who sold Hunter Biden the gun at the heart of the case; and Hunter Biden's daughter Naomi Biden. Hunter Biden did not take the stand.
Republican strategist says verdict undercuts Trump's claim that Biden controls the DOJ
Jonathan Allen
A Republican strategist said the Hunter Biden verdict undercuts some of Trump's talking points that President Biden controls the Department of Justice.
"It at a minimum slows the momentum and the clear-cut argument that the Trump campaign previously had about Biden's weaponization of the justice system," the strategist said. "It's less of a bumper-sticker than it was before."
Trump posted on Truth Social over the weekend, "I truly wish people would remember that all of these 'trials' are concocted and run by the Crooked Joe Biden White House, and DOJ, for the purpose of Election Interference and damaging Crooked's Political Opponent, ME, as much as possible. These are not legitimate trials, they are merely part of an illegal POLITICAL WITCH HUNT the likes of which our Country has never seen before! MAGA2024."
After Hunter Biden was found guilty of three charges tied to possession of a gun while using narcotics, NBC News' Hallie Jackson analyzes the political ramifications for President Joe Biden and how it may affect the 2024 election.
Hunter Biden nodded slightly as the verdict was delivered
Sarah Fitzpatrick
Summer Concepcion
Sarah Fitzpatrick and Summer Concepcion
As the courtroom awaited the verdict, the alternate jurors came in and were seated by the defense. U.S. Secret Service agents and the U.S. Marshals were huddled in the center aisle and were seen conversing.
Hunter Biden sat down and drank water after entering the courtroom, and he looked down and appeared to be taking notes as he waited for the foreman to deliver the verdict.
Biden looked straight ahead at the jury and nodded slightly as the guilty verdict was read.
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Afterward, he shook hands with some of the associates seated behind him, hugging one of them. He then smiled and hugged his lawyers Abbe Lowell and David Kolansky.
When Hunter got up, he kissed his wife, Melissa Cohen-Biden.
Jury deliberated for about 3 hours
Rebecca Shabadis in Washington, D.C.
The jury deliberated for one hour yesterday and two hours today before reaching a verdict.
First lady Jill Biden missed reading of verdict
Rebecca Kaplan
Rebecca Shabadis in Washington, D.C.
Rebecca Kaplan and Rebecca Shabad
First lady Jill Biden missed the reading of the verdict. She re-entered the courthouse at 11:21 a.m.
No sentencing date has been scheduled, judge says
Gary Grumbach
No sentencing date has been set by Judge Noreika. She will set it at a later time, she said.
Hunter Biden found guilty on all three charges
Dareh Gregorian
A jury in Delaware has found Hunter Biden guilty on three felony gun charges.
Hunter Biden was charged in federal court in Wilmington with three felony counts tied to possession of a gun while using narcotics. He had pleaded not guilty.
Two of the counts carry maximum prison sentences of 10 years, while the third has a maximum of five years. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.
Hunter Biden re-enters courthouse with wife Melissa Cohen-Biden
Rebecca Kaplan
Rebecca Shabadis in Washington, D.C.
Rebecca Kaplan and Rebecca Shabad
Hunter Biden re-entered the courthouse with his wife at 11:06 a.m. ET. His uncle and aunt, James Biden and Valerie Biden Owens, also re-entered the courthouse shortly after.
Summary of defense's case in the Hunter Biden gun trial
Summer Concepcion
Hunter Biden's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, has argued that prosecutors had fallen short of proving that his client had deliberately lied about his drug use in October 2018 when he submitted a federal form to pass a background check to purchase a gun.
During the trial, Lowell sought to poke holes in prosecutors' arguments that Biden was an active drug user around the time that he obtained the gun in question, suggesting that his client did not consider himself a drug user or addict at the time. He argued that the wording in some of the questions on the form left room for his client's denial of being a habitual drug user.
In his closing argument, Lowell pushed back against the prosecution's citations of Biden's book, which was published in 2021 and detailed his experience in being an addict, to bolster their argument that Biden knowingly lied about his drug use. Lowell told jurors that it was "unfair" of prosecutors to use quotes from the book about being an addict without context.
Verdict reached in Hunter Biden's trial
Gary Grumbach
Reporting from Wilmington, Del.
A verdict has been reached in Hunter Biden's trial.
Here's what the prosecution has said about Hunter Biden
Rebecca Shabadis in Washington, D.C.
Prosecutors have accused Hunter Biden of using or being addicted to crack and that he knew it when he bought the gun from the Wilmington, Delaware, gun shop in October 2018.
They also argued that the false statement on the ATF form, in which Hunter Biden didn't check the box asking whether he was addicted to or using controlled substances, was intended to or likely to deceive the gun sellers.
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"The central issue in this case, and that is the evidence has established beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance when he bought the gun on Oct. 12, 2018, during the period when he possessed it from Oct. 12 to Oct. 23, and for more than six months after," prosecutor Leo Wise said in his closing arguments yesterday.
He continued: "He knew he was using drugs. That's what the evidence shows. And he knew he was addicted to drugs, that's what the evidence shows."
Wise argued that maybe if Hunter Biden hadn't been to rehab or hadn't been using crack for a long period of time, then maybe he wouldn't have been aware that he was addicted to drugs. But, Wise said, evidence shows Biden was using drugs in Malibu at the end of September, two weeks before he bought the gun.
The prosecutors argued that the law doesn't require that he used the controlled substance or controlled substances at the precise time he possessed the firearm.
Prosecutors relied on testimony from Hunter Biden's ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, Beau Biden's widow, Hallie Biden, with whom he had a romantic relationship, another ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan, as well as an FBI agent, among others.
Hunter Biden's wife is the only family member with him this morning
Sarah Fitzpatrick
Reporting from Wilmington, Del.
Melissa Cohen-Biden is the only Biden family member sitting in the front row — the first time there has been no other family since the trial started.
Here's the language on the jury verdict form
Rebecca Kaplan
Rebecca Shabadis in Washington, D.C.
Rebecca Kaplan and Rebecca Shabad
The language on the jury verdict form says:
- As to Count One, charging the defendant with making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm, we the jury find the defendant:
- As to Count Two, charging the defendant with making a false statement with respect to information required to be kept in records, we the jury find the defendant:
- As to Count Three, charging the defendant with possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance, we the jury find the defendant:
The foregoing constitutes the unanimous verdict of the jury.
Here's what the president has said about his son and the case
Sarah Dean
Summer Concepcion
Sarah Dean and Summer Concepcion
As we await the verdict in Hunter Biden's gun trial, President Joe Biden has repeatedly expressed support for his son while declining to comment on the case.
- The president has said he will accept the verdict regardless of the outcome
Asked whether he will accept the jury's verdict in the case during an interview with ABC News last week, the president replied, "Yes."
"And have you ruled out a pardon for your son?" ABC News' David Muir asked. "Yes," Biden said.
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- Biden expressed support and confidence in his son at the beginning of the trial
On the first day of the trial, Biden said in a statement that he and first lady Jill Biden are "proud of the man" Hunter Biden is, noting his "resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery" from his past struggles with substance abuse.
The president also declined to comment on the case, but stressed that he has "boundless love" and confidence in his son.
"Our family has been through a lot together, and Jill and I are going to continue to be there for Hunter and our family with our love and support," the president said.
- The president has maintained that his son did not commit wrongdoing in the case
"Your son, while there's no ties to you, could be charged by your Department of Justice. How will that impact your presidency?" MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle asked Biden last year.
The president said, "First of all, my son has done nothing wrong."
"I trust him. I have faith in him," he said. "It impacts my presidency by making me feel proud of him."
Jury resumes deliberations
Daisy Conant
Jurors entered the courtroom at 9:05 a.m. and began deliberating shortly after.
Jury deliberations will enter a second day at Hunter Biden's federal gun trial where they will decide if he was lying on a federal background check before purchasing a gun. It comes after grueling testimony with close members of his family in the court room. NBC's Ryan Nobles reports and Laura Jarrett provides analysis on "TODAY."
Here's what to expect at trial today
Matt Korade
The jury will continue deliberations today when the court comes back into session at 9 a.m.
Jurors were handed the case yesterday afternoon after prosecutors and the defense finished their closing arguments. The jury deliberated for about an hour before being sent home for the day.
Many of Biden's family members and friends have attended the trial to show their support, including first lady Jill Biden; James Biden and Valerie Biden Owens, President Joe Biden's brother and sister; Hunter's sister Ashley Biden; and his wife, Melissa Cohen-Biden.
Here's what you missed on Day 6 of Hunter Biden's criminal trial
Katherine Doyle
Jurors in Hunter Biden's gun trial began deliberating Monday after they heard new evidence from a witness about his drug use in October 2018, around the time he is alleged to have illegally purchased a firearm.
Prosecutors rested their case after they told jurors that Biden was a "habitual" user of drugs from 2015 to 2019, a period that overlaps with his gun possession, and that he knew he was an addict and even wrote extensively about it in his memoir.
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His lead defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, said that while Biden may be an addict, prosecutors had not proven that he knowingly lied beyond reasonable doubt on the form he used to buy the gun.
"With this very high burden, it's time to end this case," Lowell said.
Read the full story here.
Jury deliberations began in Hunter Biden's federal criminal trial after prosecutors laid out what they called "overwhelming" evidence against the president's son as he faces gun charges. NBC News' Ryan Nobles has the latest.
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Good! Now the MAGA can shut up about Hunter!
Unlike Trump, Biden won't pardon him tomorrow!
Shut up?
He has a nine charge trial in several months ,accused of repeatedly failing to file and pay his taxes on time and engaging in an illegal tax-evasion scheme by filing false tax returns and cooking the books on his company’s payroll.
That settles it! I am not voting for Hunter!
I was never going to write his name on the ballet.
In the Trump house, they call that a “bookkeeping error.” No biggie.
LOL Ballot.
Keep that strong sense of humor to LoL at spelling.
Or, maybe his favorite ballet is about a nut cracker...
gosh darn that spellcheck, and the confusing english language. it's another conspiracy by the liberal elite...
No, his handlers won't allow him to pardon hunter until Nov. 6. then the pardon will come.
The Magic 8 Ball says, "Not Likely"...
The tax evasion trial comes up in September. He should be in house arrest for his own safety.
Daddy is next - BIG time.
This was a sham trial, kangaroo court, activist trump judge.. What was the crime? There wasn't one. Totally rigged trial.
LOL!
what the fuck for?
Because they don't like him, as usual .
Guess that's why the trial only lasted a week. Real court, real jurors, real crimes - something the Dems/Libs don't know how to use.
GOP presidential candidate = 34x convicted felon
they won't
The irony is that Hunter Biden's chance to successfully appeal hinges upon 2nd amendment gun rights issues. And the Big Guy delivers a speech advocating gun control on the same day. Will the Big Guy deny Hunter's rights to appeal just to protect the party line? Maybe Chuck Schumer can make another whirlwind speech.
The MAGA fat lady is only warming up.
Fake! Fake! It’s all rigged! The DOJ set up this kangaroo court on the orders of Donald Trump just to bring down Joe Biden (peace be upon him).
/s (did you really need that?)
See how stupid that sounds? No?
Oh yeah, by the way. Couldn’t care less about Hunter Biden and his chronic life problems.
Hunter lied on paperwork to illegally buy a gun.
It is not like he conspired for an insurrection...
Unless you can prove exact proof and not speculation, opinion or innuendo, no one else currently in the news has neither.
Jack Smith has his case ready to go.
As soon as Supreme Court says go...
No one has been charged with insurrection about the events of J6 because one never happened.
Jack Smith has lots of 'exact proof, not speculation' - former 'president' #34 and his magats have supplied all of it on 1/6 and before and to this day
He did commit a crime, was found guilty, now will probably serve time.
All in a day's work
And illegally possessed it while storing it very carelessly. Some people believe in enforcing our guns laws and even want more laws.
Sorry, not clear. Are you talking about Trump or Hunter? But IMO neither will be sentenced to prison for their current guilty verdicts.
I'm talking about Hunter. If I recall, that's what the article is about
[deleted][✘]
Thanks. With the thread bouncing back & forth between Hunter and Trump your statement wasn't clear to me.
But first time offender, I doubt he will be sentenced to prison. And IMO prison would be bad for his recovery, as an addict is never really cured. The hardship in prison would be bad for his recovery. Some sort of community service is what I suspect.
CHARGED YET!
Good points.
For the most part I try to stay on topic sometimes I get lost
I have to agree with all you are saying here. Very thoughtful.
And most normal people couldn't care less about Trump paying off some bitch and his staff making a bookkeeping error.
ALL normal people care when a lowlife candidate takes steps to hide information about themself that would cause voters to not vote for them.
As Joey has/is doing.
He's next.
What’s he hiding? Let me guess - you don’t know but if a committee of 50 congress people work tirelessly enough on our dime they will eventually find something!!
Lot more people than 50 have been working overtime to pin something on Trump. All they got was a toothless and empty 'guilty", of something, we're still not sure of what yet.
Wait. Why is she a bitch? Because she fucked Donald Trump? What does that make him? He was married. What is your name for him? Or do you want to just admit to misogyny now?
Not an error. Intentional fraud. It’s real simple. This was proven in court beyond a reasonable doubt.
Just like Hunter didn’t make a mistake on the form. He lied on purpose in a context where lying is crime.
[deleted][✘]
Exactly! In America NOBODY is above the law!
No, we’re 100% sure of his crime. It’s available in black and white print. [deleted] [✘] Face the truth, knowing that it’s not what you wanted.
Fairly sure this is SOP for all politicians.
Bookkeeping error, lol, this reminds me of Casino. Remember what happened to Artie Piscano in Casino when they found his second set of books?
I've been thinking about that and #34 and how fitting that would be
Yeah, just a bookkeeping error. And Trump’s attempt to steal the 2020 election was nothing more than exercising free speech.
Those who so downplay Trump’s wrongdoing into ‘did nothing wrong’ have no credibility with me.
Which "bitch", Ivana, Marla, Karen, Stormy, Jill Harth, Jessica Leeds? I believe there are more.
Bookkeeping errors do not involve an employee taking out a home loan and then the benefactor figuring out the future tax implications and throwing in an extra $60 K to cover the taxes...
That was a convoluted example of a conspiracy to avoid being caught doing something (else) wrong and immoral.
Yeah, well I didn’t care about anything Trump did until he wanted to be president. When you become president - or want to be - the shit you do matters to everyone.
Funny how that works! The former 'president' was never really even a blip on my radar, knew nothing about him except for his book and how so many people looked up to him, I didn't get that then (people looking up to him) but only for his alleged billionaire status I believe and I sure as hell don't get it now how anyone can anyone could look up to him much less not care what an abysmal POS he is.
You act like Trump is the only one who has done this before. Maybe you should research the topic.
Nahhhhh - as you know, it's gonna take the Dems/Libs at least 80+++ to show up - 'cause they sure as hell don't work.
Literally lol. Dems work, Republicans just run defense full time in a game the American taxpayers despise. Congress hasn’t done shit in years because of the Republican game of being against anything Democrats are for, even when Republicans used to be for it and their constituents still want it.
Sure wish we could make all lying punishable
... that's what maga calls freedom of speech.
I've been lied to by a person who I never thought would lie to me. He's been forgiven but there are days I want to press charges when he lies to me again.
As a matter of fact, when I become Queen of the World I will prosecute liars
You got my vote..
“…when I become Queen of the World…”
It would be an honor to be your veep if I may be so bold…
You're the only one that asked so VP you shall be
I thought the ostrich was the VP?
Maybe just the Secretary of Inuendo?
She can't be Security, she loses keys all the time...
Shoot, missed my opportunity to suck up for the spot
lol
“Shoot, missed my opportunity to suck up for the spot…”
I will do my very best to not be her ‘mtg’…misrepresenting trout giggles…
Uh...I don't need any help. I misrepresent myself quite well
The Ostrich took a hike some time ago mumbling about shoes, keys and tiaras
I hear she fell in with some Kardashian wannabes that call themselves the Pink Flamingoes
that beastie!
cool, you're way over qualified for the GOP anyway...
We the Queen do not belong to silly political parties
don't make me go GOT on your ass...
While this is Hunter and not Joe, have to wonder how much the RNC will use the sentencing of Hunter for the upcoming election. The judge has said that sentencing 120 days after the verdict which would put this into mid-October. It's gonna be all over the news and it won't be good coverage for Joe IMO. To have this come up just a couple weeks before election day...
all we need to know -
Hunter Biden jurors appeared on television this afternoon answering questions, faces shown to the camera.
Trump jurors are getting death threats and protecting their identity for their dear life.
Exactly, they know there is no reason to fear, Hunter’s art loving friends.