Hunter Biden is convicted of lying about drug use and buying weapons

Businessman Hunter Biden, 54, son of the President of the United States, Joe Biden, was convicted this Tuesday (11) of lying, in September last year, about not using drugs to acquire and possess a firearm in October 2018.

The businessman's case revolves around the fact that he lied in a statement about not using drugs to be able to buy a firearm. Hunter stated in the document that he did not use any toxic substances, despite being dependent on cocaine, crack, among other illicit substances at that time.

The decision was judged by a popular jury with 12 members who held the hearing in a court in Wilmington, in the state of Delaware. At the moment, the businessman has been accused of three crimes, namely: lying on a federal document, lying to a seller licensed to sell weapons and possessing an illegally obtained weapon.

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_{Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden (Photo: reproduction/Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)}

The judge, who is responsible for the case, did not set a date for the businessman's sentence, but reported that, normally, the deadline is set within 120 days. Hunter is the first son of a US president to be convicted in a criminal case.

If Hunter is convicted with the maximum sentence, he will face up to 25 years in prison, in addition to paying a fine of US$750,000 (approximately R$4 million).

Accusation bases argument on memoir

The prosecution uses a memoir written by the businessman called “Beautiful Things”, in which he narrated some of his life experiences in detail and in which he talks about the period in which he was a user.

Hunter's defense claims and argues that when he went to buy the gun and filled out the form, he was, in fact, conscious and sober, and had even spent time in a rehabilitation clinic to take care of himself.

What does Joe Biden say

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_{Joe Biden, President of the USA, says he will be by his son's side (Photo: reproduction/Bloomberg/Getty Images)}

Biden stated that, whatever the result, he will be peaceful with the decision and the process that his son takes. “I'm president, but I'm also a father. Gil and I love our son, we are proud of the man he is today. Families who have had loved ones struggle with addiction understand the feeling of pride in seeing the person come out of it and be strong in recovery.”he said.

The US president also says that the family will be by Hunter's side on this journey until the end.

Featured photo: Hunter Biden (Reproduction/Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)