Businessman Hunter Biden, son of United States President Joe Biden, was declared guilty on Tuesday of three serious charges related to the purchase of a firearm in October 2018 when he lied on a mandatory form stating that he did not illegally consume drugs or was addicted to them.
A 12-member jury in a federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, ruled against her and the violation of the law could carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, although such punishment is unlikely given that this is her first offense of this kind, according to legal experts.
After several months of investigations and potential agreements, the decision turned Biden Jr., 54, into the first son of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted, a verdict that Democrats could use to counter former President Donald Trump's claim that the judicial system is rigged against him.
In that vein, special prosecutor David Weiss told the press that "no one is above the law, everyone must be accountable for their actions, even this accused individual," according to a report by CNN in Spanish.
"However, Hunter Biden should not be more accountable than any other citizen convicted of the same conduct. The prosecution has been and will continue to be committed to this principle," he added.
The judge did not set a date for the sentencing, but added that the usual timeframe is 120 days. Therefore, the ruling could be known almost a month before the next presidential elections in the United States, on November 5th.
After the jury's decision, President Biden expressed that he would accept the outcome of the case and "will continue to respect the judicial process while Hunter considers an appeal," the EFE agency reported citing a statement released by the White House.
Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that," she added.
Many families who have had loved ones battling addiction understand the feeling of pride when they see someone they love come out on the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery," the president stated in the note.
The case could affect Biden's reelection campaign, as Republicans, especially former president and likely candidate Trump, frequently use it against him.
Trump himself was also found guilty last week by a New York jury, on 34 charges of falsifying business records to cover up payments to a porn actress, in an illegal conspiracy to aid his 2016 presidential campaign.
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