Defense attorneys indicated on Monday that Hunter Biden won’t testify in his gun trial, as President Joe Biden’s only living son faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Hunter was charged with three crimes in connection with his purchase of a handgun in October 2018. Prosecutors argue that because Hunter was a drug addict, he should have checked a box indicating such on a form he filled out prior to purchasing the firearm, and not doing so amounted to making a false statement material to a firearms sale and making a false statement in a firearms transaction record, Reuters reported. Those are the first two charges against Hunter. The third relates to Hunter allegedly violating a law banning drug users and addicts from possessing firearms.
Two of the counts against Hunter each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, while the other count carries a maximum sentence of 5 years, NBC News reported. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, meaning Hunter could spend up to 25 years in prison and owe $750,000 in fines.
“After the defendant announced his awareness of a federal investigation of him in 2020, the defendant chose to author and sell a book in 2021 in which he made countless incriminating statements about his years-long drug usage, including during the time period he purchased and possessed the gun,” said Special Counsel David Weiss in court filings earlier this year.
On Thursday, President Biden said he would not pardon his son if Hunter is convicted. In an interview with ABC News, Biden was asked if he would accept the result of Hunter’s criminal trial, and the president answered: “Yes.” He was then asked if he would rule out pardoning his son, to which Biden again replied, “Yes.”
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Hunter’s defense has argued that he didn’t lie on the firearms form because, while he was an addict, he was not on drugs at the time he purchased the firearm. Texts between Hunter and Hallie Biden, Beau Biden’s widow who took up a sexual relationship with Hunter after her husband’s death, allegedly show that Hunter was on drugs within 11 days of purchasing the gun. Hallie, whom Hunter introduced to crack cocaine during their relationship, pleaded with Hunter in one text to “Check yourself into a local rehab.” She said this after she discovered the gun in Hunter’s unlocked vehicle and disposed of it, infuriating Hunter.
Hunter has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In addition to the charges Hunter faces in Delaware, he is also accused of evading taxes in California.