Hunter Biden Charged with Unlawful Gun Possession and False Statements on Background Check

A federal grand jury in Delaware has issued charges against Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, alleging unlawful possession of a firearm and providing false information to obtain a gun. The indictment, made public on Thursday, asserts that Biden knowingly misled a licensed arms dealer on a background check form in October 2018, falsely denying his drug addiction in order to purchase a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver.

The indictment contends that Hunter Biden, the president’s second son, knowingly provided inaccurate information during the firearm purchase process, an act prohibited under federal law for individuals with a history of drug addiction. This development comes amidst a backdrop of controversy surrounding Hunter Biden’s personal life, including his struggles with addiction and a previous publicized incident involving a laptop left at a Delaware repair shop.

According to the indictment, Hunter Biden’s firearm, a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver, was later discarded in a bin outside a Wilmington, Delaware grocery store by Hallie Biden, the widow of Hunter’s late brother Beau Biden, who had reportedly become romantically involved with Hunter. Concerned about the possibility of him using the firearm, she retrieved it, only to find it missing. The incident raised questions about the involvement of the US Secret Service in what some have alleged to be a cover-up.

Hunter Biden’s battle with addiction became a matter of public interest in October 2020 when the New York Post published contents from a laptop that he had reportedly abandoned at a Delaware repair shop. The laptop contained photos and videos of Hunter Biden engaging in drug use, handling firearms, and participating in explicit activities with individuals alleged to be prostitutes.

The New York Post’s story was met with controversy and censorship in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election after 50 former US intelligence officials claimed it was “Russian disinformation.” It was later revealed that this letter had been organized by Joe Biden’s campaign, further inflaming partisan tensions.

In June, Hunter Biden’s legal team reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, which would have downgraded his tax violations to misdemeanors and sentenced him to probation, while the firearm charges would be handled separately under a pretrial diversion agreement, potentially resulting in no prison time.

Critics, especially Republicans, lambasted the plea agreement, alleging preferential treatment by the Department of Justice due to Hunter Biden’s familial connections. Additionally, Congress launched an investigation into whistleblower claims regarding interference from higher-ups in the Delaware prosecutor’s work on the case.

However, the status of the plea agreement became unclear when a federal judge appeared to block it, raising questions about the charges presented on Thursday and their relation to the July agreement.

Hunter Biden’s legal team has maintained that the plea agreement remains in effect despite the recent charges, leaving the resolution of this legal saga uncertain and continuing to attract attention both inside and outside of political circles.