Takeaways from Day 3 of Hunter Biden’s firearms trial
NBCMay 28
Hunter Biden Found Guilty on All Gun Charges
story
Above: (L-R) First Lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, joined by his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, leave the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 11, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware. Image copyright: Anna Moneymaker/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
A Delaware federal court jury has found US Pres. Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, guilty of two counts of making false statements when buying a firearm and one count of illegally possessing a firearm in 2018. All three charges carry a total of up to 25 years in prison.
The trial judge said a sentencing date has not been set yet, but noted that it typically occurs around 120 days after the verdict, which would be early October. He also faces a fine of up to $750K, but federal guidelines suggest a much shorter jail time and financial penalty.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Hunter Biden fell down the dark hole of drug addiction, the consequences of which led to criminal actions that tainted both his life and the reputation of his very famous family. His dad also walked the fine line between supporting his son and upholding the rule of law, which is why a jury found him guilty. With Hunter now judged by both a jury and the court of public opinion, it's time for Americans to put partisanship aside and focus on the tragic human aspect of this story.
Republican narrative
While it's nice to see the corrupt son of a corrupt president face justice, Americans should not view this as a win. Pres. Joe Biden's Justice Department has used these gun charges to keep public attention away from Hunter and his father's foreign bribery allegations. The White House will now use this to justify its prosecutions of Trump, but this is in no way an equal application of the law.
Narrative C
While it may be difficult to do, anyone who believes in the constitutional right to bear arms, whether they like the president or not, should be upset about this verdict. When America was founded, both alcohol and opium were known substances, yet no laws prohibited users of those substances from possessing guns. If the justice system can violate the gun rights of the president's son, what do you think they'd be willing to do to an average citizen?
