- Charges have been brought against the son of US President Joe Biden for violating firearms regulations.
- 53-year-old Hunter Biden is accused of concealing his drug addiction when buying a gun years ago.
- A planned deal with the public prosecutor in the state of Delaware regarding the allegations had previously collapsed.
According to court documents, the indictment from the state of Delaware includes three counts: making a false statement during the purchase, making false statements to the dealer and possessing a weapon despite illegal drug use. The maximum possible penalty is ten years in prison. But prosecutors in Delaware have previously said that similar offenses often result in sentences well below the possible maximum penalty.
Legend:
Hunter Biden is also currently being investigated for tax crimes.
REUTERS/Archive/Jonathan Ernst
Hunter Biden made his long-term drug addiction public in a book in 2021. He has been in the sights of the US justice system for a long time. Investigations against him had been ongoing for years, including for possible tax offenses.
In June, the public prosecutor’s office in Delaware finally published formal allegations against the president’s son. On the one hand, it was about the violation of gun laws.
The judiciary also accused the 53-year-old of not paying the income tax due on time in 2017 and 2018. At that time, the prosecutor’s office initially announced that they had reached an agreement with Hunter Biden to avoid a trial in both cases. However, that deal fell through at a court hearing at the end of July.
Republicans portray Bidens as a crime family
In mid-August, US Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special investigator in the case: The prosecutor David Weiss, who had previously been investigating, was given additional powers and continued to advance the investigation into Hunter Biden.
The investigation and a possible trial against Hunter Biden could also have an impact on the election campaign. Joe Biden wants to run again in the 2024 election. The investigation against Hunter Biden is not about the president. But the Republicans repeatedly portray the Bidens as a crime family.
The president has in the past dismissed the attacks against himself and his family as a smear campaign. In the US House of Representatives, Republicans are also pushing ahead with investigations into possible impeachment proceedings against Joe Biden – because of his son’s alleged involvement in dubious dealings.