Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, began his trial on Monday on charges of possessing a firearm illegally. The 54-year-old defendant arrived at the court in Wilmington accompanied by members of his family, including First Lady Jill Biden, but without the President. The trial is expected to last from one to two weeks and will involve charges related to his drug addiction and firearm possession.
Biden has expressed support for his son, stating that he is “very proud” of him and trusts him. However, the trial comes at an inconvenient time for Biden as he seeks re-election and wants to keep the focus on Trump’s behavior. The start of Hunter’s trial comes days after Trump was convicted in New York on charges of falsifying business records.
Hunter is accused of lying about his drug addiction when filling out an application to obtain a firearm in 2018. He is also accused of possessing a firearm that he had on 11 days in October of that year, despite claiming that he did not use illegal drugs at the time. Prosecutors plan to review several pieces of evidence related to Hunter’s years as an addict and have called three witnesses to testify against him.
Despite facing these charges, Hunter maintains his innocence and has stated that he overcame his addiction in 2019. If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison; however, it is possible that he will receive a lesser sentence due to a lack of prior convictions.
The White House has confirmed that Hunter would not receive a presidential pardon if convicted, while Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff emphasizes the importance of respecting the jury’s verdict. Despite facing criticism from Republicans and attacks on his private life and controversial foreign business dealings, Hunter remains a popular figure among many Americans who have faced similar struggles with addiction themselves or within their families.
