Hunter Biden’s law license suspended in Washington DC after conviction in gun case
Hunter Biden
A local court in Washington DC, United States, on Tuesday (Jun 25) suspended the law licence of US President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, after he was convicted on federal gun chargesearlier this month.
Hunter Biden’s law licence suspended
The Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia issued an order “immediately” suspending Hunter Biden’s law licence after what they called “serious crimes” under the district’s bar rule.
Earlier this month, Hunter was found guilty by a jury on all three federal felony gun charges against him in Wilmington, Delaware.
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The court also hinted at more severe repercussions and directed its attorney disciplinary arm, the Board on Professional Responsibility, to “institute a formal disciplinary proceeding”.
The board also warned that it could recommend that Hunter be disbarred if the formal proceedings to determine the nature of the offences find that the crime he committed involved “moral turpitude”.
On June 11, a jury in Wilmington found Hunter guilty of three felony counts tied to possession of a gun while using narcotics. The first son had pleaded not guilty in the case. So far, no sentencing date has been set.
Hunter Biden’s lawyers seek new trial
Hunter’s lawyers, on Monday (Jun 24) requested a new trial claiming that there was a procedural issue in the timing of the early June trial which led to his conviction.
The first son’s lawyer said that the court did not have jurisdiction over his case because of appeals that he had filed challenging his prosecution.
In the filing, Hunter’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, argued his client’s conviction “should be vacated” because the trial began without the issuance of a “mandate” from the appeals court, which should have allowed the trial to proceed.
The “mandate” effectively notifies a lower court of the ruling made by a higher court in an appeal.
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The first son’s lawyers had filed a motion for a new trial on June 17 but swiftly deleted the request.
Hunter was found guilty of lying on a gun application that he used to buy a Colt Cobra 38 Special revolver in 2018 by not disclosing his drug addiction.
The charges against him carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and fines of $750,000. However, this sentence is unlikely for first-time offenders.
(With inputs from agencies)