Hunter Biden discovered responsible. What comes subsequent?

By Tom Hals and Jack Queen

WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) – A jury on Tuesday discovered U.S. President Joe Biden‘s son Hunter responsible of constructing false statements on a gun background verify and of illegally possessing a firearm. Here’s what occurs subsequent.

WILL HUNTER BIDEN BE INCARCERATED?

Hunter Biden is going through a most of 25 years in jail, however the sentencing tips for illegally possessing a firearm, Hunter Biden’s most severe offense, is 15-21 months and most offenders get lower than that. He might additionally serve a number of sentences concurrently.

Biden didn’t use the firearm in committing a violent crime, has no report and has been complying with phrases of his pretrial launch, together with month-to-month drug testing. These will doubtless be mitigating elements and authorized consultants stated Hunter Biden will not be incarcerated.

WHEN WILL HUNTER BIDEN BE SENTENCED?

U.S. District Choose Maryellen Noreika set no date for sentencing.

Defendants who’re discovered responsible in Delaware federal courtroom are sometimes sentenced inside 120 days of their conviction. That might place it no later than a couple of month earlier than the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election.

Hunter Biden will first be interviewed by probation officers, who will put together a confidential report laying out a variety of penalties based mostly on federal sentencing tips.

Prosecutors and protection attorneys will reply to the report with their very own suggestions, and the decide overseeing the case will maintain a listening to earlier than making a choice.

HOW MIGHT HUNTER BIDEN APPEAL?

Hunter Biden’s authorized crew made three arguments to dismiss the case previous to trial, and will elevate these points once more on attraction.

They argued the gun regulation was unconstitutional following a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court docket in 2022 that expanded gun rights, that the case was politically motivated and {that a} plea deal Hunter Biden struck final 12 months stays in impact though prosecutors rescinded it.

His lawyer Abbe Lowell stated in a press release they’d “vigorously pursue all of the authorized challenges accessible to Hunter.”

REMAINING TAX CASES

Hunter Biden nonetheless faces a trial in September on fees of violating tax regulation. Having been convicted as soon as, he might face a better sentence if discovered responsible once more.

Hunter Biden faces 17 years in jail if he’s discovered responsible on the tax fees, in line with the Division of Justice, although such a steep sentence can be extremely unlikely.

(Reporting by Tom Hals and Jack Queen in Wilmington, Delaware; Enhancing by Howard Goller)