Hunter Biden pleads not guilty to firearms charges in Delaware court

Hunter Biden outside the federal courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware Photo: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to the charges charges Hunter Biden, 53, arrived at federal court in his family's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, without speaking to waiting reporters. He has pleaded not guilty to three criminal charges stemming from the purchase of a .38-caliber Colt Cobra revolver in 2018, when he admitted he became heavily addicted to drugs and barely had control of his life.

Hunter Biden is charged with two counts of perjury for stating on forms required to buy guns that he did not use drugs illegally.

He faces a third charge based on the same statements about that he illegally possessed the weapon — which he held for just 11 days in October 2018 — before disposing of it.

Multiple controversies

Hunter Biden's Multiple Legal Charges Issues and controversies, including bitter accusations from Republican politicians that he engaged in corrupt business practices in China and Ukraine, have continually undermined his father Joe Biden's political position as he runs for a second term in 2024

< p>Republicans have launched a congressional impeachment inquiry into what they claim is a criminal conspiracy by the Biden family, but have presented no evidence that the president did anything wrong. Joe Biden has repeatedly denied knowing about or being involved in his son's business dealings.

In response to the ongoing scandals, the US president said he supports his son and loves him for his efforts to recover from drug addiction.

Abbie Lowell, Hunter Biden's lawyer, asked Judge Christopher Burke to allow his client, who lives in California, to appear by video rather than in person, but the request was denied.< /p>

“The defendant should not receive any special treatment.” treatment in this case,” Mr. Burke wrote in his ruling.

If convicted, Hunter Biden theoretically faces 25 years in prison, although such offenses, unless accompanied by other charges, are rarely punished prison time.

In July, a plea deal was reached between Hunter Biden and federal prosecutor David Weiss that would have dropped weapons charges, while Mr. Biden pleaded guilty to two tax charges and escaped prison — fell apart.