The son of United States President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, has been found guilty by a jury for lying about his drug addiction to unlawfully purchase a firearm.

A 12-member jury in Wilmington, Delaware’s federal court, unanimously convicted him on all three charges on Tuesday. This makes Hunter Biden the first child of a sitting US president to be convicted of a crime.

At 54, Hunter Biden only slightly nodded as the verdict was delivered, demonstrating minimal reaction. He then briefly congratulated his lawyer Abbe Lowell before embracing another member of his legal team.

First lady Jill Biden arrived at the courthouse shortly after the jury's decision but was not present in the courtroom when the verdict was declared. Hunter Biden departed the courthouse hand in hand with the first lady and his wife, without commenting to reporters before leaving in waiting SUVs.

After the decision, President Joe Biden stated he would respect the judicial process and accept the outcome as Hunter considers an appeal. He expressed pride in Hunter, who has remained sober since 2019, and emphasized familial support in a statement.

In a written response to the verdict, Hunter Biden expressed disappointment but gratitude for friends’ and family’s support. His attorney confirmed they would continue to explore all legal challenges available.

The jury deliberated for around three hours over two days. No sentencing date has been set yet, but it is usually within 120 days post-verdict, meaning it must occur no later than a month before the November 5 presidential election where Joe Biden seeks re-election.

For the gun charges, sentencing guidelines suggest 15 to 21 months. However, experts indicate similar cases often result in shorter sentences with lesser likelihood of imprisonment if pretrial terms are met.

This trial follows ex-president Donald Trump’s criminal conviction on May 30. Trump, the Republican challenger in the November election, was convicted of a felony, marking the first for a former US president.

Additional charges in California

Trump, found guilty of 34 felonies for falsifying business records concerning a sex scandal, accuses Democrats of leveraging this and other cases to hinder his return to power against Joe Biden.

Democrats assert Joe Biden does not exploit the legal system for personal or political gain, highlighting the Hunter Biden prosecution as evidence. Joe Biden stated last week he would not pardon his son if convicted.

The case against Hunter Biden was spearheaded by Justice Department Special Counsel David Weiss, a Trump appointee.

Weiss commented that the verdict demonstrates that “no one in this country is above the law.”

Additionally, Hunter Biden faces three felony and six misdemeanor tax charges in California, amounting to a $1.4 million tax evasion from 2016 to 2019. He pleaded not guilty, with a trial set for September 5 in Los Angeles.

During the Delaware trial, testimonies were given by Hunter Biden's ex-wife, former girlfriend, and sister-in-law, discussing his severe addiction around the time he purchased the gun in October 2018.

Prosecutors also presented texts, photos, and bank records indicating Biden's serious addiction at the gun purchase time, arguing he knowingly broke the law by lying on a government form about his drug use.

His defense argued he was sober during the gun purchase and did not intend to deceive, as he did not perceive himself as a drug user when completing the form.

Hunter Biden's daughter, Naomi Biden, also testified, asserting her father seemed to be in good health shortly before and after the gun purchase.