A deal with the public prosecutor’s office fell through before the indictment.
(Photo: dpa)
Washington Charges have been brought against the son of US President Joe Biden for violating firearms regulations. Hunter Biden is accused of making false statements during a gun purchase several years ago and knowingly concealing his drug addiction. This emerges from the indictment against the 53-year-old, which was published on Thursday in the state of Delaware.
A planned deal between Hunter Biden and the public prosecutor responsible for the allegations had previously collapsed.
According to court documents, the charges include three counts:
- a false statement when purchasing
- False statements to the dealer
- and possession of a weapon while unlawfully using drugs
The maximum possible penalty is ten years in prison. But prosecutors in Delaware have previously said that similar offenses often result in sentences well below the possible maximum penalty.
Hunter Biden made his long-term drug addiction public in a book in 2021. He has been in the sights of the US justice system for a long time. Investigations against him had been ongoing for years, including for possible tax offenses. In June, the public prosecutor’s office in Delaware finally published formal allegations against the president’s son. On the one hand, it was about the violation of gun laws.
The judiciary also accused Hunter Biden of failing to pay income tax due on time in 2017 and 2018. At that time, the prosecutor’s office initially announced that they had reached an agreement with Hunter Biden to avoid a trial in both cases. However, that deal fell through at a court hearing at the end of July.
Special investigator appointed by the Minister of Justice
In mid-August, US Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special investigator in the case: The prosecutor David Weiss, who had previously been investigating, was given additional powers and continued to advance the investigation into Hunter Biden.
The investigation and a possible trial against Hunter Biden could also have an impact on the election campaign. Joe Biden wants to run again in the 2024 election. The investigation against his son is not about the president. But the Republicans repeatedly portray the Bidens as a crime family.
The president has in the past dismissed the attacks against himself and his family as a smear campaign. In the US House of Representatives, Republicans are also pushing ahead with investigations into possible impeachment proceedings against Joe Biden – because of his son’s alleged involvement in dubious dealings.
More: Republicans are declaring war on Biden – so impeachment could harm the US president