Jurors Question Necessity of Hunter Biden’s Gun Conviction “A Waste of Taxpayer Dollars”

Some of the 12 jurors who convicted Hunter Biden on three gun-related felony counts are now publicly expressing their views on the case, questioning not only their decision to find him guilty but also the necessity of the prosecution itself.

On Tuesday, the jury of six men and six women delivered a unanimous verdict, finding President Joe Biden’s son guilty after just three hours of deliberation. They were instructed to base their decision on whether Hunter Biden lied on a federal form when purchasing a handgun in 2018 while addicted to crack cocaine.

Jurors told CNN that while Biden was clearly guilty under the rules governing firearm purchases, some felt that prosecuting him was excessive. “[The case] seemed like a waste of taxpayer dollars,” one female juror said.

Another female juror, who also voted to convict, expressed her belief that a prison sentence was unwarranted. She referenced a moment during the trial when Hallie Biden, the widow of President Biden’s other son, Beau, discarded the weapon just 11 days after Hunter bought it, fearing he might harm himself. “When he said he did not want that gun back, and that gun sat in evidence for almost five years, I think that’s what may have been what led to his downfall,” she said. “If he had taken possession of that gun, I don’t know if we would have even had a trial.”

Despite concerns over the political implications of convicting the son of a sitting U.S. president, jurors stated that they “just didn’t feel the pressure” and that politics did not influence their deliberations. While First Lady Jill Biden attended some of the trial proceedings, jurors said they were able to focus solely on the facts of the case. “[President Biden] never really even came into play for me because his name was only brought up in one story in the trial,” a male juror said. “And that’s when it … kind of sunk in a little bit. Oh, wow: This is the sitting president’s son who’s on trial. And so that was, yeah, that was kind of hard … but you kind of put that out of your mind. And after that, after it was brought up again, I did put it out of my mind.”

Hunter Biden faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison. Judge Maryellen Noreika did not announce a sentencing date but said she would provide one within the next four months. President Biden has previously stated he would not pardon his son if convicted, affirming his respect for the legal process. “I also said last week, that I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal,” Biden said. “Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.”

The gun case is not the last legal challenge Hunter Biden will face. He is scheduled to go to trial in September for tax-related charges, having pleaded not guilty to nine felony and misdemeanor charges of scheming to avoid paying roughly $1.4 million in taxes while living a lavish lifestyle.