Key takeaways:
- Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to three federal firearms charges
- The charges allege that Hunter lied about his drug use in October 2018 on a form to buy a gun
- The case could have implications for the 2024 election
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to three federal firearms charges filed after a plea deal imploded. The charges allege that Hunter lied about his drug use in October 2018 on a form to buy a gun that he kept for about 11 days.
The judge overseeing the case went over the conditions of Hunter Biden’s release and said he discussed them with the probation officer. These conditions include supervision by a U.S. probation officer in the Central District of California, actively seeking employment, not possessing a gun, not using alcohol, not using drugs and submitting to drug testing if required by the probation office. He would also have to participate in substance abuse counseling if the probation office requires it.
Gun charges like these are rare, and an appeals court has found the ban on drug users having guns violates the Second Amendment under certain circumstances. Hunter Biden has acknowledged struggling with an addiction to crack cocaine during that period, but his lawyers have said he didn’t break the law.
The deadline for pretrial motions in the case is Nov. 3. It is unclear if the case will go to trial or if a plea deal will be reached. The outcome of the case could have implications for the 2024 election.
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