Hunter Biden conviction shatters Trump’s persecution narrative

CNN —

An unprecedented two weeks of legal drama that yielded historic convictions of a former president and a sitting president’s son have also produced a clear political takeaway.

The survival of the rule of law in America and untainted justice may depend on the choice voters make in November.

The country’s divergent possible paths under President Joe Biden or presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump were highlighted in the way both men, their families and their political operations reacted to the twin trials and verdicts.

U.S. President Joe Biden embraces his grandson, Beau Biden, as his daughter-in-law, Melissa Cohen Biden, and his son, Hunter Biden, who earlier in the day was found guilty on all three counts in his criminal gun charges trial, stand by after the president arrived at the Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, U.S., June 11, 2024. REUTERS/Anna Rose Layden

Related article Hunter Biden’s guilty verdict punctuates long and difficult saga for the president’s family

Biden made no effort to interfere in the prosecution of his son Hunter with either his executive authority or with the media megaphone of his office. He allowed his own Justice Department to secure a guilty verdict Tuesday that could result in jail time for the recovering addict and hurt his own 2024 campaign. “I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal,” the president said after the jury found his son guilty oflying on a federal background check form and possessing a gun while addicted to, or using, illegal drugs. He has already said he won’t pardon his son. In his first reaction to the verdict, Hunter Biden didn’t attack the judge or prosecutors,