A federal grand jury in Delaware has indicted Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, on charges of unlawful possession of a gun and lying about his drug habit to obtain the firearm. The indictment, published on Thursday, accuses Biden of knowingly making false statements on a background check form when purchasing a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver in October 2018. As a drug addict, Biden was not permitted to possess a firearm.
The incident involving the gun took a mysterious turn when it was reported that Hallie Biden, the wife of Hunter’s late brother Beau Biden, threw the pistol into a bin outside a grocery store in Wilmington, Delaware, out of fear that Hunter would use it. However, when she went back to retrieve the gun, it was gone. The US Secret Service was later accused of attempting to cover up the entire incident.
Hunter Biden has publicly acknowledged his struggle with crack cocaine addiction, claiming that he has little recollection of the years 2018 and 2019 due to his drug habit. His drug addiction gained public attention in October 2020 when the New York Post published contents from a laptop that he had abandoned at a Delaware repair shop. These contents included photos of Biden smoking crack, handling a gun, and engaging in explicit sexual activities with prostitutes.
In the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election, the New York Post story was censored after 50 former US intelligence officials falsely declared it as “Russian disinformation.” It was later revealed that the letter denouncing the story was organized by Joe Biden’s campaign.
In June, a plea agreement was reached between Hunter Biden’s lawyers and federal prosecutors. The agreement sought to reduce his tax violations to misdemeanors and sentence him to probation while addressing the firearms charges separately. The gun charges were expected to be resolved through a pretrial diversion agreement, which would result in no prison time. This agreement was heavily criticized by Republicans, who viewed it as preferential treatment for the president’s son. Additionally, Congress launched an investigation into a whistleblower’s allegations of interference from higher authorities in the case handled by the Delaware prosecutor.
Although a federal judge initially appeared to have blocked the plea deal, Biden’s lawyers maintain that it remains in effect. It is unclear whether the charges announced on Thursday are part of the previously mentioned plea agreement.
The indictment of Hunter Biden on charges related to the unlawful possession of a gun and deception about his drug habit has once again put the spotlight on the President’s son. The case has already been marked by controversy, with allegations of a cover-up and claims of preferential treatment. As the legal proceedings continue, the political implications of the case are likely to be closely scrutinized.
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