DowAccording to AFP, Hunter Biden, son of current US President Joe Biden, will be tried on June 3rd for illegal purchase and possession of guns. This is the first time in US history that the children of a sitting president have been tried, which may have an adverse impact on the re-election campaign of the current President Joe Biden.

Hunter Biden, 54, is accused of illegally purchasing and possessing guns while under the influence of drugs and addiction, in violation of U.S. federal law. Hunter pleaded not guilty to the charges but admitted to alcohol and drug addiction. He will be tried in Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, and the entire trial is expected to last one to two weeks.

What charges does Hunter Biden face?

Hunter Biden faces three charges, all related to the purchase and possession of guns. He bought a revolver in 2018 and admitted that he was seriously addicted to drugs at the time. According to U.S. federal law, when a person buys a gun, they must fill out a form with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to confirm that they are legally qualified to purchase a weapon. Hunter reportedly checked "No" for "Whether to illegally use or indulge in illegal drugs", and was suspected of making a false statement. In addition, according to U.S. federal law, it is also illegal to possess a gun while taking drugs.

The indictment and court documents disclosed by the US media show that Hunter Biden illegally possessed a gun for 11 days in October 2018, and the gun was later discarded in the trash by his girlfriend. It is worth noting that prosecutors collected testimony from Hunter's ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, former date Hallie Biden, and the mother of one of his children, Lunden Roberts, to prove his drug use before and after purchasing the gun.

According to US media reports, if all three charges against Hunter Biden are proven, he could face up to 25 years in prison. However, even if all charges are proven, Hunter is unlikely to be sentenced to prison because he has no criminal record. It is worth noting that since all three charges against Hunter are federal charges, US President Joe Biden has the right to pardon his son or commute his sentence at any time, but the White House explicitly ruled out this possibility in July last year.

Hunter also faces evidence against him. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who presided over the case, issued a ruling last month allowing prosecutors to use evidence from Hunter's laptop, which contained a large number of documents against him and could prove his drug use around October 2018.

What impact will it have on the presidential campaign?

Hunter Biden's trial is the first time in U.S. history that the children of a sitting president have faced a criminal trial. It is expected to be a heavy psychological burden for Biden and have an adverse impact on his re-election campaign. Reports say it is a public relations test for the Democrats. Just a few days ago, another historic event took place in the United States - Republican presidential candidate Trump became the first former U.S. president to be convicted.

Relevant analysis indicates that Biden's campaign team must ensure that Hunter's trial does not replace Trump's trial and become the headlines.

In addition, the trial has also led to political divisions between Hunter Biden and President Biden. Hunter's lawyer believes that the federal law that Hunter violated in this case, which prohibits drug addicts from owning guns, is unconstitutional, and the Biden administration is currently a supporter of this gun control law.

Hunter Biden has been embroiled in various scandals and legal disputes in recent years, mostly related to alcoholism and drug addiction. In addition to the gun crime charges, he also faces multiple tax crime charges, including tax evasion, filing false tax returns and failing to file taxes on time. The tax case is expected to go to trial in Los Angeles in September this year, when the US presidential campaign will enter its most intense stage.