Hunter Biden has been found guilty on all three charges in his federal gun trial, making him the first son of a sitting US president to face a criminal conviction. Prosecutors alleged that Biden, 54, lied about his drug use on a federal form when purchasing a handgun in 2018. Biden, who pleaded not guilty, claimed he was truthful on the application form as he was in recovery from drug addiction at the time. After about three hours of deliberation, a panel of 12 Delaware jurors reached their verdict, to which Biden showed little emotion upon hearing.

In response to the outcome, Biden expressed disappointment but gratitude for the support he received from his family, friends, and community during the trial. Notably, members of Biden's family, including his wife Melissa Cohen Biden and his uncle James Biden, had been present in court throughout the trial. However, only his wife and uncle were present for sentencing. US First Lady Jill Biden arrived at the court's lobby moments after the verdict was announced, showing her support as well.

While Hunter Biden faces the possibility of prison time, experts deem it unlikely for him to receive the maximum sentence of 25 years. The judge did not set a date for sentencing but noted that it typically occurs within 120 days of conviction. Despite the conviction, Biden's defense lawyer, Abbe Lowell, stated plans to vigorously pursue all available legal challenges.

President Joe Biden, upon learning of his son's conviction, expressed pride in Hunter's efforts to overcome addiction and emphasized his support for the judicial process. He had previously stated that he would accept the outcome of the case and not pardon his son if convicted. The charges against Hunter Biden stem from his purchase of a handgun in 2018, which was later discovered in his truck and discarded by his then-girlfriend.

While the trial coincides with a politically charged atmosphere, with President Biden's re-election campaign underway, the verdict was welcomed by some Republicans who had previously interviewed Hunter Biden as part of an impeachment probe into his father. Throughout the trial, both the defense and prosecutors stressed to jurors that Hunter Biden's family should not influence their decision-making process, with one juror confirming that political considerations did not factor into their deliberations. Hunter Biden's legal challenges are far from over, as he faces a separate criminal case involving tax evasion, scheduled for trial in September.