Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, is now facing three federal felony charges in connection with his 2018 purchase of a .38-caliber handgun during a period of intense drug addiction. The court documents released recently detail the charges that Special Counsel David Weiss brought forward.
The allegations state that Hunter was dishonest about his past involvement with illegal drugs when he applied for a background check for a Colt Cobra revolver in October 2018. One of three charges specifically indicts him for having the firearm while being an active user and addict of illegal drugs.
Despite his well-documented history with drugs, Hunter indicated “no” on the Firearms Transaction Record. This form requires a potential gun buyer to answer if they illegally use or are addicted to drugs such as depressants, marijuana, stimulants, or any other controlled substance. It’s worth noting that Hunter had already been removed from the Navy Reserve due to cocaine use. He had undergone alcohol and drug rehab programs in 2003, 2010, and 2014. Moreover, a laptop he left for repairs in 2019 contained explicit content, including images of him allegedly using crack cocaine.
The public became aware of Hunter’s purportedly “false and fictitious” form in 2021 when Politico released a copy of his 4473 form and transaction receipt. However, it’s believed that government agencies, including local police, the Secret Service, the FBI, and the ATF, were aware of this discrepancy earlier, as the handgun became the focal point of a missing gun investigation.
Ironically, it was only earlier this summer that the DOJ (Department of Justice) announced its intention to charge Hunter with two federal misdemeanor counts for tax evasion and one federal felony charge for possessing a firearm while an illicit drug user. Weiss is believed to have previously postponed these additional charges, as they might negatively impact Biden’s presidential campaign.
Previously, a plea deal was arranged between the DOJ and Hunter, which would have seen him face only probation for the two misdemeanor tax charges, with the original felony gun charge being dropped, provided he committed to a drug-free lifestyle for two years and vowed never to own a firearm again. After agreeing to the sweetheart deal, Hunter’s legal team asserted that the “five-year investigation” into Hunter was “resolved.” The statement and the deal were widely circulated by mainstream media. All that was needed was a Judge’s signature, and Hunter’s problems disappeared.
However, Federal Judge Maryellen Noreika quickly questioned the validity of the plea agreement, pointing out its potential to shield Hunter from other crimes during that period. As a result of Noreika’s questions, the plea deal collapsed. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Weiss as special counsel to revisit the charges while other prosecutors pursued Hunter for tax-related offenses in California or Washington, D.C.
It is unclear whether the terms reached in the plea agreement supersede the new indictment, as per claims by Hunter’s legal team, especially given the fact that the plea required the Judge to sign off on it. If convicted on all the new charges, Hunter could face penalties, including a fine and a prison sentence of up to 25 years.