Hunter Biden faces the likelihood of being sentenced on felony firearms charges in November, as confirmed by a judge’s order on Friday. The sentencing, scheduled for November 13 in Wilmington, Delaware, could potentially result in a prison term of up to 25 years for the president’s son. However, being a first-time offender, he might receive a lesser sentence or avoid imprisonment altogether. Apart from the firearms charges, Hunter Biden is also confronting tax-related allegations in California, with a trial set to commence in September, as he is accused of neglecting to pay $1.4 million in taxes.
President Joe Biden, who decided against seeking reelection last month, has publicly stated that he will refrain from utilizing his presidential authority to pardon his son or reduce his punishment. Hunter Biden was convicted of three felonies for providing false information on a federal document in 2018 to purchase a firearm, claiming he was not a drug user during a period when he was battling addiction.
The responsibility of determining the duration of Hunter Biden’s potential prison term has been bestowed upon U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, appointed to the bench by former President Donald Trump. The sentencing is anticipated to follow shortly after Election Day. Originally, Hunter Biden was expected to admit to misdemeanor tax offenses and avoid legal action in the firearm case by upholding good behavior for two years, as per an agreement with prosecutors last year. However, disagreements arose when Judge Noreika queried certain unusual aspects in the proposed agreement, leading to the collapse of the deal.
Hunter Biden is striving to have both the tax and firearm cases against him dismissed, drawing parallels to a ruling in Florida that dismissed a separate prosecution of Trump. Trump’s lawyers had argued that the Justice Department special counsel overseeing the case had been improperly appointed. Hunter Biden’s legal matters are being handled by a special counsel appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland. There has been no immediate response from Hunter Biden’s legal team regarding the forthcoming sentencing.
