First Lady Jill Biden opened up over the weekend about her stepson Hunter’s federal gun conviction after witnessing most of the trial from the courtroom.
She told NBC News on Saturday the gun trial was “a tough week for my family,” because the Bidens “had to relive … the tough times,” referring to harrowing testimony from Hunter Biden’s exes about his crack-cocaine addiction.
Hunter Biden was convicted last week on three federal gun charges, two of them resulting from falsely claiming on gun paperwork he was not addicted to crack cocaine when he purchased a firearm in October 2018. The third charge against Biden was for possessing the firearm for eleven days while addicted to crack cocaine.
“I think after the decision in the court, Hunter was strong, and so I have to take his example and just get out there and start fighting again,” the first lady added.
The criminal trial took place in Wilmington, Delaware, and pitted different members of the Biden family against each other. The proceedings laid bare how Hunter Biden’s years-long crack-cocaine binge permanently altered the lives of those around him.
“Joe and I both respect the judicial system, and that’s the bottom line,” Jill Biden said of the verdict. She does not believe the weight of Hunter’s conviction will influence her husband’s job performance.
“Oh, no,” she said. “He is a strong man, and he is a resilient man, and he’s going to do a great job.”
Kathleen Buhle, Hunter Biden’s ex-wife and mother of his three eldest daughters, was a witness for the prosecution, putting her on the other side of daughter Naomi Biden, a witness for the defense.
Buhle appeared despondent, and struggled to remember specific details of Biden’s drug usage, except for the day she found a crack pipe on their porch in 2015.
The defense tried to use Naomi’s testimony to show Hunter Biden’s behavior changed around the time of the gun purchase, but texts introduced by the prosecution during her cross-examination undermined Naomi’s recollection of events.
Hallie Biden, Hunter’s ex-girlfriend and the widow of the late Beau Biden, also testified for the prosecution and recalled finding crack cocaine remnants in Hunter’s car when she found the firearm.
Her testimony was important for persuading a holdout to convict Hunter on his first false statement charge, as NR reported from Delaware.
When the verdict was announced, Jill Biden was not in the courtroom, and only arrived afterwards to be with her family. But, she was present throughout the trial, only leaving to go to Paris for D-Day events with her husband, President Joe Biden.
Jill was occasionally companied by her daughter, Ashley Biden, another addict in the Biden family. Ashley Biden only watched the trial for short periods of time before getting emotional and leaving the courtroom.
Additional members of the Biden family came to support Hunter during the trial, such as uncle and business partner James Biden, and aunt Valerie Biden Owens.
She and Hunter’s current wife Melissa Cohen left the courtroom with him after Hunter’s conviction. Cohen was in the courtroom for the entire trial and often embraced Hunter as they entered and exited the courtroom together.
“I am 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,” Hunter Biden said in a statement following his conviction.
President Biden said last week he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence, which is set to be decided later this year. Hunter faces a maximum of 25 years in prison but will likely receive a much lighter sentence.
Hunter Biden is expected to appeal the gun charges, largely on Second Amendment grounds.