US President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden was convicted on Tuesday of lying about his drug use to buy a gun illegally.
Jurors deliberated for less than four hours in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware before finding him guilty on all of the three counts he faced, making Hunter Biden the first child of a sitting US president to be convicted of a crime.
Following the verdict, the President issued a statement in which he said he was "proud of the man" his son has become.
"So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out on the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery," the statement said.
"I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal."
The President last week ruled out issuing a pardon for his son.
The conviction comes after a long-running Justice Department investigation that began in 2018.
Hunter Biden had pleaded not guilty to felony charges that include lying about his addiction when he filled out a government screening document for a Colt Cobra revolver, and illegally possessing the weapon for 11 days.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors used testimony from former romantic partners, personal text messages and photos of Biden with drug paraphernalia to make the case that he had broken the law.
The defence, meanwhile, had urged the jury to acquit Biden of the charges as he did not consider himself to be an addict when he purchased the gun.
Following his conviction, Hunter Biden said in a statement that he was "more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome" of the case.
"Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time."
Abbe Lowell, Biden's lawyer, said that the legal team will "continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available".
Biden left the courthouse holding hands with his mother, first lady Jill Biden, and his wife, Melissa. They did not speak to reporters, got into waiting SUVs and drove off.
Ms Biden, who attended several days of the trial, had not yet arrived at the courthouse when the verdict was read.
The sentencing guidelines for the gun-related charges against Biden are 15 to 21 months in jail, though technically he could face up to 25 years.
Legal experts say, however, that offenders in similar cases often receive shorter sentences and are less likely to be incarcerated if they abide by the terms of their pretrial release.
The judge set no date for sentencing but added the timetable is usually within 120 days, placing it no later than a month before the November 5 US presidential election.
The trial followed the criminal conviction on May 30 of Donald Trump, the first former US president to be found guilty of a felony and the Republican challenger to the current President in the election on November 5.
Trump, convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up an alleged affair with an adult film actress, has accused Democrats of pursuing that case and three other criminal prosecutions to prevent him from regaining power in his rematch with Mr Biden.
In a statement to CNN, the Trump campaign said in response to the verdict: “This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine.
"Crooked Joe Biden’s reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit. As for Hunter, we wish him well in his recovery and legal affairs.”
Biden also faces a trial, scheduled for September, on felony charges that he failed to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes over four years.
Both cases have been overseen by special counsel David Weiss, who previously served as the Trump-appointed US attorney in Delaware.
Mr Weiss and his team have denied allegations that the cases against Biden are politically motivated.
"No one in this country is above the law. Everyone must be accountable for their actions, even this defender," he told reporters.
"However, Hunter Biden should be no more accountable than any other citizen convicted of this same conduct."
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Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
