On Tuesday in a courtroom in Wilmington, Delaware, Hunter Biden — son of the president of the United States — was found guilty on three gun charges, while 658 miles away in a courtroom in Hamilton County, Chattanooga Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod was found innocent — in a manner of speaking — of residency fraud.
The two cases have nothing to do with each other but, in a way, they do. Both, like a recent trial in New York you might remember, involved a public figure. In both cases the evidence was presented and a verdict or order rendered. Some people on both sides of the political spectrum may not agree with whether charges should have been brought, or what the outcome was, but the fact is both were adjudicated in open court.
Biden, the first son of a current president of the United States to go on trial and be convicted, faces up to 25 years in prison when sentenced, but first-time offenders rarely are given the maximum allowed time, and it’s uncertain if he’ll even be given prison time. An appeal is likely, and the judge in the case, Maryellen Noreika, did not set a sentencing date.
Although President Joe Biden ridiculed the case before it went to trial, we can appreciate his words after the verdict was rendered. We would expect nothing less from any loving parent.
He said he would accept the outcome and “will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.”