Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Gun Charges

Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son, pleaded not guilty on Oct. 3 to felony gun charges, including possessing a gun while using illegal drugs. Mr. Biden faces up to 25 years in prison, up to 9 years of supervised release after imprisonment, and fines of up to $750,000 if convicted. Mr. Biden appeared in U.S. court in Wilmington, Delaware, the city where he was born, in a suit and tie. His lawyers entered not guilty pleas to all three counts on his behalf. He was forced to appear in person after his bid to tune in remotely was rejected by U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Burke. Judge Burke, appointed by other judges, presided over the hearing. The judge read all three charges, the penalties for each, and Mr. Biden's rights. He set typical pretrial release conditions, including a prohibition against possessing a gun and using alcohol. Judge Burke also set a Nov. 3 deadline for motions during the approximately 20-minute hearing. Defense lawyers requested an evidentiary hearing. The judge at one point said that Mr. Biden has tested negative on several drug tests conducted since July. Mr. Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, said previously that Mr. Biden “possessing an unloaded gun for 11 days was not a threat to public safety, but a prosecutor, with all the power imaginable, bending to political pressure presents a grave threat to our system of justice.”