Hunter Biden Convicted of Lying About Drug Use to Buy Gun
Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, faces a prison term after being convicted of three charges related to lying about his drug use when purchasing a gun. This landmark verdict makes him the first child of a sitting US leader to be convicted of a federal crime. The 54-year-old will return to court in September to face separate tax charges.
Last summer, it seemed Hunter Biden might avoid prison through a plea agreement, but the deal collapsed in court, leading to federal inquiries into gun and tax charges. The tax indictment alleges he failed to pay over $1.4 million in federal taxes for tax years 2016-19.
While Republicans in Congress have conducted impeachment hearings into President Biden, investigating alleged influence-peddling by his son, no substantial evidence has been found. However, Hunter’s personal struggles with substance abuse and relationship issues have been widely publicized.
Born in 1970, Hunter Biden faced early tragedy when he lost his mother and sister in a car accident. Despite attending prestigious institutions like Georgetown University and Yale Law School, he battled alcohol and drug addiction, leading to stints in rehab. His struggles intensified after the death of his brother Beau from brain cancer in 2015.
Amid divorce proceedings from his first wife, Hunter faced allegations of extravagant spending on drugs, alcohol, and other indulgences. He later admitted to infidelity in his marriage. Additionally, a DNA test in 2019 confirmed he was the father of a child born to an exotic dancer from Arkansas.