What to know about Hunter Biden's criminal trial
- Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's only surviving son, was found guilty on all three charges tied to the possession of a gun while using narcotics. The jury reached the verdict after only three hours of deliberation yesterday afternoon and this morning.
- Two of the counts carry maximum prison sentences of 10 years, while the third has a maximum of five years. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika said she will set the sentencing date at a later time.
- The list of those who were called to testify last week includes Hallie Biden, the wife of Hunter Biden's late brother, Beau Biden; Gordon Cleveland, the man who sold Hunter Biden the gun at the heart of the case; and Hunter Biden's daughter Naomi Biden. Hunter Biden did not take the stand.
NBC News reporters covering Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial in Delaware share how they used signs and binoculars to relay news of the guilty verdict from the courtroom, where no electronics were allowed, to their team outside.
Source describes 'extraordinary moment' as Hunter Biden thanked family and attorneys after verdict
In the defense room after the verdict, Hunter Biden made some remarks, thanking each person in the room by name, according to multiple people who were in the room.
“It was an incredible human moment,” one person said, “it was an extraordinary moment that everyone around him in those minutes after the verdict will always remember.”
Hunter Biden expressed that he was incredibly grateful for and proud of everyone involved — and that no one could have done a better job than Abbe Lowell and his team of attorneys and that he will be forever grateful to them.
The most emotional moment was when Hunter talked about how much he loves his mother and father, and his wife, Melissa Cohen-Biden — his voice almost cracked.
One source said: “I think the most important thing this prosecution has shown is that we need to reconsider how we enforce the laws around drugs and alcohol in this country. This prosecution is a really stark example of how antiquated the justice system is with regard to these issues and the exercise of fair prosecutorial discretion is a vital part of our judicial system. You have to treat like cases alike or it does not work, and unfortunately this applies not just to Hunter but to millions of Americans who have faced the scourge of addiction.”
The sources expressed how proud they were of Hunter Biden and his continued sobriety.
Juror tells Fox News that Jill Biden's presence in the courtroom didn't affect proceedings
Juror #10 told Fox News in an interview that he was "nervous" when it came to time to deliberate, but that in the end, it helped to focus on "just why" the president's son "was on trial."
"I think he’s just like anybody else," the juror said. "Nobody’s above the law, no matter who you are."
"So that did not play a factor in my decision," the juror said, adding that the decision to convict "was not politically motivated."
"Politics played no part in this whatsoever," the juror said. "We just went by the rules."
The juror added that it was not a factor that first lady Jill Biden, and other members of the Biden family, were present for the trial.
"I was aware of it," the juror said. "But no. Once we went into the jury room, we didn’t. We didn’t discuss anything. We didn’t discuss the family."
House Speaker Mike Johnson say verdict was 'appropriate'
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., says he thinks Hunter Biden being found guilty is “appropriate."
Johnson has been very critical of the guilty verdict against Trump in the former president's New York case. But when asked if his take on the Biden case undercuts his argument that there is a two-tiered justice system, Johnson replied, “It doesn’t."
"Every case is different, and clearly the evidence was overwhelming here. I don’t think that’s the case in the Trump trial, and all the charges that have been brought against them have been obviously brought for political purposes," Johnson said. "Hunter Biden is a separate instance.”
Hunter Biden’s guilty verdict upends a top Trump talking point
Former President Donald Trump’s argument about the “weaponization” of the justice system just ran smack into a Delaware jury’s conviction of President Joe Biden’s son Hunter.
The result, according to some Republicans, is a major blow to one of Trump’s favorite talking points — and a boost to Biden’s case that he respects the rule of law.
“Hunter Biden’s conviction definitely weakens the argument,” said Dan Eberhart, a major Republican donor who backs Trump and thinks he should be focused on the economy rather than court cases. “To me, the justice system is working.”
The president will head to Wilmington tonight
President Joe Biden will depart Joint Base Andrews at 3 p.m. en route to Wilmington, Delaware, the White House said. He is scheduled to arrive at 3:50 p.m.
Special counsel David Weiss says Hunter Biden gun case was about his 'dangerous' conduct amid his battle with addiction
In brief remarks to the media after the verdict, special counsel David Weiss said the gun case against Hunter Biden was about the “dangerous” decisions he made as he battled addiction, including lying on the government form that he used to buy a gun.
“Ultimately, this case was not just about addiction, a disease that haunts families across the United States, including Hunter Biden’s family,” he said.
“This case was about the illegal choices defendant made while in the throes of addiction, his choice to lie on a government form when he bought a gun and the choice to then possess that gun. It was these choices and the combination of guns and drugs that made his conduct dangerous.”
Weiss then stressed that no one in the country is above the law, including the president’s son.
“Hunter Biden should be no more accountable than any other citizens convicted of this same conduct,” he said. “The prosecution has been and will continue to be committed to this principle and to the principles of federal prosecution and carrying out its responsibilities.”
Weiss thanked the jury, prosecutors Derek Hines and Leo Wise, and Attorney General Merrick Garland for “providing the support necessary” to carry out the prosecution’s investigation.
Weiss did not take questions at the end of his statement, saying that his office has additional trials and investigative work ahead.
Juror says president 'never came into play' during deliberations
Juror #10 spoke to CNN after the verdict and suggested it was hard for Naomi Biden to testify about her father.
“No daughter should ever have to testify against her dad," the juror said, although Naomi Biden was, in fact, a witness for the defense.
“President Biden never really came into play for me because his name was only brought up once during the trial, and that’s when it kinda sunk in a little bit, like, oh, wow, this is the sitting president’s son who’s on trial," the juror added. "So, yeah, that was kind of hard, to know what the trial’s about now. But you kind of put that out of your mind."
Trump campaign says trial was a distraction
The Trump presidential campaign said in a statement, without evidence, that the Hunter Biden trial has been nothing more than a distraction from other wrongdoings.
"Crooked Joe Biden’s reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th," said national press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The GOP impeachment inquiry in the House has not found any evidence tying the president to his son's business dealings.
Hunter Biden gives a slight smile after exiting the defense room with his wife and first lady Jill Biden
Prosecutors Derek Hines and Leo Wise exited the courtroom with slight smiles and declined to comment to NBC News.
As they waited for the rest of the Biden family to leave the defense room, a few family friends that had been there throughout trial sat outside the courtroom on a bench with their arms folded. One appeared to have tears in their eyes.
“Prepare for departure for all parties” was heard over a U.S. Marshal's radio.
Outside the defense room, a group of about eight Secret Service agents and U.S. Marshals conferred with one another before the defense room door opened.
Hunter Biden could be heard saying, “Ready? OK. Hey guys, come on,” and then he exited the defense room holding hands with his wife, Melissa Biden-Cohen. First lady Jill Biden followed a few steps behind with her sunglasses on, looking at the floor. Hunter Biden addressed her as “mom” as he helped escort the first lady into the elevator, and gave a slight smile as the elevator doors closed in front of him.
Shortly after, U.S. Marshals called out to “secure this hallway,” and a moment later we saw each juror walk past as they were escorted to a stairway.