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By Andrew Stanton
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Hunter Biden's law license has been suspended in Washington, D.C. after a jury found him guilty on firearm charges in Delaware earlier in June.
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday that Biden, son of President Joe Biden, "is suspended immediately from the practice of law in the District of Columbia pending resolution of this matter," directing the Board on Professional Responsibility to institute a formal proceeding "to determine the nature of the offense and whether it involves moral turpitude within the meaning of D.C. Code 11-2503(a)."
A copy of the ruling was posted to X, formerly Twitter, by Politico's Kyle Cheney.
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On June 11, a Delaware jury found Biden guilty of three firearm charges. Prosecutors accused him of lying about his status as a drug user when purchasing a firearm in 2018. Section 922(g)(3) of the United States Code states it is against the law for anyone who is an "unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance" to possess a firearm.
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He previously pleaded not guilty to the charges and has maintained his innocence.
The suspension order was signed by Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, who was appointed to the court by former President George W. Bush. D.C. law requires that any member of the bar of the District of Columbia Court of appeals who is "convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude" may lose their law license in the district.
"If a final judgment of conviction is certified to the court, the name of the member of the bar so convicted shall be struck from the roll of the members of the bar and such person shall thereafter cease to be a member. Upon the granting of a pardon to a member so convicted, the court may vacate or modify the order of disbarment," the Code of the District of Columbia reads.
Newsweek reached out to Abbe Lowell, the attorney representing Biden, for comment via email.
Following the firearms guilty verdict, Hunter Biden wrote in a statement, "I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time."
He has not issued public comment following the ruling on Tuesday.
Earlier in June, following the conviction, the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel wrote that the offenses allegedly committed by Hunter Biden constitute a "serious crime," reported The Washington Post.
Hunter Biden also potentially faces up to 25 years in prison and a maximum $750,000 fine. However, because he is a first-time offender, legal experts have noted he probably will not face the maximum sentence. It remains unclear when he will be sentenced.
Update 6/25/2024 12:30 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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