Hunter Biden pleads not guilty to US gun charges

WASHINGTON

Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to federal gun charges in the state of Delaware, according to reports.

Biden’s court appearance came after a judge denied his request to appear by video conference, insisting on an in-person arraignment, saying that the defendant "should not receive special treatment."

Biden was indicted last month by special counsel David Weiss in Delaware on three gun charges.

The first is related to Biden allegedly completing a form indicating that he was not using illegal drugs when he purchased a revolver in October 2018.

"The defendant, Robert Hunter Biden, in connection with the acquisition of a firearm ... knowingly made a false and fictitious written statement, intended and likely to deceive that dealer with respect to a fact material to the lawfulness of the sale of the firearm," according to one count of the indictment.

Count two alleges that Biden knowingly made a false statement "that he was not an unlawful user of, and addicted to, any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance, when in fact, as he knew, that statement was false and fictitious."

The third alleges that he “did knowingly possess a firearm, a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver ... said firearm having been shipped and transported in interstate commerce."

Two of the counts carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, while the third carries five years.