Highlights: Hunter Biden, son of the US president, charged with illegal possession of a firearm. He is accused of lying when buying a Colt Cobra in 2018, saying he did not suffer from addictions while he admitted to using drugs at the time. If convicted, he faces a maximum prison sentence of 25 years. Hunter Biden has long suffered from drug and alcohol addictions, says he has not taken anything since 2019 following an intervention by his second wife Melissa, with whom he had a son, and his father.

Joe Biden's son, Hunter, a prime target of the American right and political torment of his father, was charged Thursday at the federal level with illegal possession of firearms.

Hunter Biden, son of the US president, charged with illegal possession of a firearm

Joe Biden's son, Hunter, a prime target of the American right and political torment of his father, was charged Thursday at the federal level with illegal possession of firearms.

Hunter Biden, the son of the US president in Wilmington, Delaware, July 26, 2023. © JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS

By: RFI Follow

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Hunter Biden is accused of lying when buying a Colt Cobra in 2018, saying he did not suffer from addictions while he admitted to using drugs at the time. He "knowingly made a false written statement" and found himself in possession of the revolver unlawfully, according to court documents.

The indictments, which come from a federal grand jury, were issued by David Weiss, who has been investigating Hunter Biden for several years and was recently appointed special counsel. The son of the Democratic president had reached an initial agreement negotiated with David Weiss in Delaware in June, which would likely have allowed him to avoid jail time and an embarrassing trial for him and his father. But one judge questioned the validity of the arrangement. Then prosecutors – led by David Weiss – confirmed that it was no longer on the agenda.

After trying at all costs to avoid being brought to justice, Hunter Biden could find himself on trial in the middle of the election campaign for next year's presidential election, in which his father is seeking another term. If convicted, he faces a maximum prison sentence of 25 years.

Targeted by Republicans

Hunter Biden has also been targeted for years by his father's predecessor, Donald Trump, and many other Republicans, who accuse him of corruption. Conservative parliamentarians accuse him of having done dubious business in Ukraine and China while Joe Biden was Barack Obama's vice-president (2009-2017), capitalizing on the networks and his father's name. A former associate of Hunter Biden recently told Congress that Biden had arranged for his father to speak on the phone several times with foreign partners, but without Joe Biden getting involved in his affairs.

The president has always maintained that he stands by his son in his personal and judicial setbacks. "My son didn't do anything wrong. I trust him," Biden recently said of Hunter's tax fraud and illegal gun possession charges.

He never abandoned me Hunter Biden once wrote about his father. "At times, his perseverance put me off. I was trying to disappear into a black hole with alcohol or drugs and then he was there, landing again with his lantern." Hunter, who has long suffered from drug and alcohol addictions, says he has not taken anything since 2019 following an intervention by his second wife Melissa, with whom he had a son, and his father.

Hunter Biden, son of the US president, charged with illegal possession of a firearm

Hunter Biden, son of the US president, charged with illegal possession of a firearm

Targeted by Republicans

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