In a development that has sent ripples through the political arena, Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, has been indicted on federal gun charges. The indictment, unsealed on Thursday, September 14, stems from allegations surrounding his purchase of a firearm in 2018 while allegedly using narcotics.

The Delaware federal court has charged Hunter Biden with three counts related to the possession of a gun during his reported narcotics use. Two of these counts pertain to the paperwork Biden completed during the firearm's purchase, where he indicated he was not using illegal drugs. The third count alleges his possession of the weapon while under the influence of drugs. Specifically, the government documents Biden filled out during the purchase stated that he was not an "unlawful user of, and addicted to, any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance." Prosecutors argue that this statement was "false and fictitious.”

The legal implications for Biden are significant. Two of the charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years each, while the third has a maximum of five years. If convicted on all counts, Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison.

This indictment follows a period of intense legal negotiations. Earlier in the year, there were reports of a plea deal between Biden and federal prosecutors, which would have seen him plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts in exchange for a recommended sentence of probation. However, this deal fell apart in late July after U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika raised concerns about the scope of the immunity deal Hunter was seeking. The judge specifically questioned Biden about potential illegal business dealings during Joe Biden's tenure as vice president.

Following the collapse of the plea deal, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed investigator David Weiss as special counsel for the case, leading to the current federal indictment.

Hunter Biden's legal challenges have also cast a shadow over his father's presidency. There have been accusations of Hunter engaging in illegal international business dealings while Joe Biden was vice president. In correspondence from Hunter's legal team, his lawyer, Chris Clark, highlighted the potential complications of a criminal trial, including the possibility of President Biden being called as a witness. Clark wrote, "President Biden now unquestionably would be a fact witness for the defense in any criminal trial."

Clark further emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "This of all cases justifies neither the spectacle of a sitting President testifying at a criminal trial nor the potential for a resulting Constitutional crisis."

As the legal proceedings unfold, the case promises to be a focal point of political discussions, with potential ramifications not just for Hunter Biden but also for the Biden administration.