President Joe Biden’s reelection bid could be facing a serious test – how might it be forced to react to the fact that his troubled son could face years in prison for lying on a federal form to purchase a firearm. Hunter Biden had previously reached a deal that would have made the felony gun possession charge essentially go away if he met certain conditions over a 24-month period.
However, his plea deal to resolve two tax charges fell apart in court earlier this summer, and the future of the gun deal had been left in limbo. That was until Wednesday when special counsel David Weiss announced he intended to seek an indictment against the younger Biden. The formal charges are expected to come later this month, but the number isn’t known at this time.
“The Speedy Trial Act requires that the Government obtain the return of an indictment by a grand jury by Friday, September 29, 2023, at the earliest. The Government intends to seek the return of an indictment in this case before that date,” the special counsel’s office said in a court filing.
The Clock is Ticking – But Hasn’t Run Out
The timing of the charges is also notable, as prosecutors have said previously the statute of limitations for some of the charges related to Hunter Biden’s purchase of a firearm in October 2018 are set to expire next month.
It is a federal crime to lie on the ATF form that is used to conduct a background check at the time of purchase, and the president’s son did lie about his drug use. Hunter Biden had reportedly responded “no” to the question on the transaction record that specifically asked, “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?”
However, he later acknowledged in his memoir “Beautiful Things” that he was struggling with crack cocaine addiction at the time of the purchase. Hunter Biden purchased a handgun at a Delaware gun shop and owned it for about 11 days.
The president’s son could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Hallie Biden’s Role in This Mess
Complicating matters is how the firearm was disposed of, and as previously reported, Hallie Biden – his late brother’s widow and paramour at the time – was worried about his drug use following her husband’s death and that Hunter might use it to hurt himself. She subsequently threw the handgun into a supermarket trash bin in Delaware.
After fearing that wasn’t the correct way to dispose of a firearm – which it absolutely would not be – Hallie returned to the scene and was unable to find the firearm. It should be noted that Hallie reportedly had a concealed carry permit, so she should have been versed in the seriousness of her actions. Soon after, the local police began to investigate, in part because the trash bin was located across the street from a high school and there were very legitimate fears that the firearm could be used in a crime.
According to a March 2021 story from Politico.com, the Secret Service apparently intervened and reportedly approached the owner of the gun shop where the firearm was purchased. The owner of the store refused to supply the paperwork, fearing that the Secret Service may have wanted to hide Hunter’s ownership of the firearms.
It should be noted that the ATF, not the Secret Service, conducts investigations regarding firearms-related matters. Why the agency was involved remains an unanswered mystery. The White House has denied having any role in the attempt by the Secret Service to obtain the related paperwork.
The .38-caliber pistol was eventually returned by an elderly man who found the gun in the grocery store’s bins. The bizarre incident somehow didn’t result in any charges or arrests for either Hallie or Hunter – and it might have been entirely forgotten were it not for Politico.com’s report.
What Does the Previous Deal Mean?
Hunter Biden’s legal team has downplayed the pending charges, CNN reported.
Hunter Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell said via a statement that the previous deal “prevents any additional charges from being filed against Mr. Biden, who has been abiding by the conditions of release under that agreement for the last several weeks, including regular visits by the probation office.”
Lowell added, “We expect a fair resolution of the sprawling, 5-year investigation into Mr. Biden that was based on the evidence and the law, not outside political pressure.”
Author Experience and Expertise
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
