Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, pleaded not guilty to federal gun charges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware on Tuesday. The charges were brought against him by Special Counsel David Weiss as part of a long-running investigation.
Biden appeared in person for his arraignment at 10:00 a.m. ET, asserting his innocence in the purchase of a firearm and related false statements.
The charges include making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm, making a false statement related to information required by a licensed firearms dealer, and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
This is the first set of charges that Weiss has brought against Hunter Biden since being appointed as special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August. The case has garnered significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the Biden family.
Earlier this year, Hunter Biden had reached a plea agreement to avoid jail time on a felony gun charge. As part of the agreement, he was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax.
However, the original plea agreement collapsed in July, leading to the current charges. The collapse of the agreement was a surprise to many, as it was believed that a resolution had been reached in the case.
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Hunter Biden’s decision to plead not guilty indicates his intention to fight the charges in court. By entering a not-guilty plea, he asserts his innocence and puts the burden of proof on the prosecution to present evidence that he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is likely to attract significant media attention, given the public interest in the Biden family. It will be closely watched to see how the court proceedings unfold and what impact, if any, they have on the political landscape.
