Hunter Biden found guilty. What comes next?
PHOTO CAPTION: Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, walks outside the federal court on the day of his trial on criminal gun charges, in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Hannah Beier
By Tom Hals and Jack Queen
WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) - A jury on Tuesday found U.S. President Joe Biden's son Hunter guilty of making false statements on a gun background check and of illegally possessing a firearm. Here is what happens next.
WILL HUNTER BIDEN BE INCARCERATED?
Hunter Biden is facing a maximum of 25 years in prison, but the sentencing guidelines for illegally possessing a firearm, Hunter Biden's most serious offense, is 15-21 months and most offenders get less than that. He could also serve multiple sentences concurrently.
Biden did not use the firearm in committing a violent crime, has no record and has been complying with terms of his pretrial release, including monthly drug testing. Those will likely be mitigating factors and legal experts said Hunter Biden may not be incarcerated.
WHEN WILL HUNTER BIDEN BE SENTENCED?
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika set no date for sentencing.
Defendants who are found guilty in Delaware federal court are typically sentenced within 120 days of their conviction. That would place it no later than about a month before the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election.
Hunter Biden will first be interviewed by probation officials, who will prepare a confidential report laying out a range of penalties based on federal sentencing guidelines.
Prosecutors and defense lawyers will respond to the report with their own recommendations, and the judge overseeing the case will hold a hearing before making a decision.
HOW MIGHT HUNTER BIDEN APPEAL?
Hunter Biden's legal team made three arguments to dismiss the case prior to trial, and could raise those issues again on appeal.
They argued the gun law was unconstitutional following a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 that expanded gun rights, that the case was politically motivated and that a plea deal Hunter Biden struck last year remains in effect even though prosecutors rescinded it.
His lawyer Abbe Lowell said in a statement they would "vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter."
REMAINING TAX CASES
Hunter Biden still faces a trial in September on charges of violating tax law. Having been convicted once, he could face a greater sentence if found guilty again.
Hunter Biden faces 17 years in prison if he is found guilty on the tax charges, according to the Department of Justice, though such a steep sentence would be highly unlikely.
(Reporting by Tom Hals and Jack Queen in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Howard Goller)
