Wilmington, United States

The jury has begun deliberations in the historic trial of Hunter Biden on federal gun charges. On Monday (June 10), the 12-member jury heard the closing statements in a case that marks the first criminal prosecution of a child of a sitting US president.

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When will the jury deliberations conclude?

"We ask you find the law applies equally to this defendant as it would to anyone else," government prosecutor Derek Hines told the jury as the criminal trial reached its final phase.

"When he chose to lie and buy a gun he violated the law. We ask you return the only verdict supported by the evidence - guilty," he added, as quoted by Reuters.

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Also read | Hallie Biden, with whom Hunter Biden had a romantic tryst, says she threw a gun in trash

As per an AFP report, after the closing arguments from both sides, the 12-member jury started its deliberations on Monday itself. However, they concluded after about an hour and are now scheduled to resume their pondering at 9:00 am on Tuesday (June 11).

If convicted, Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison, although as a first-time offender, jail time is unlikely.

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What charges does Joe Biden's son face?

Hunter Biden, 54, the son of President Joe Biden, is accused of lying about his illegal drug use when purchasing a handgun in 2018, a felony. 

The young Biden is charged with falsely stating that he was not using drugs illegally when buying a .38 calibre revolver in 2018. He is also charged with illegal possession of the firearm, which he had for just 11 days in October of that year. 

Furthermore, Hunter Biden also faces tax evasion charges in another case in California.

Also read | Hunter Biden trial: Evidence reveals president’s son texted, ‘Sleeping on a car smoking crack’

How is this affecting Joe Biden's re-election campaign?

Even as Hunter Biden's legal troubles have reopened old wounds related to his past struggles with drug addiction, they also pose a significant challenge for his father, Joe Biden and the Democrats during an election year.

President Joe Biden's son has been a frequent target of hard-right Republicans who have launched extensive investigations into his business dealings in China and Ukraine, seeking to impeach President Biden based on his son's business activities. However, no charges have ever been brought from these probes.

Biden's rival Donald Trump and his allies have also investigated Hunter Biden at length in Congress on allegations of corruption and influence-peddling. Those efforts too have gone nowhere.

(With inputs from agencies)