'Distraction from the real crimes': Trump campaign rips Hunter Biden gun trial

The Trump campaign on Tuesday contended that the guilty verdict in Hunter Biden's trial on gun charges served as a distraction from the first family's larger illicit dealings, including alleged foreign transactions.

Hunter Biden was found guilty Tuesday on charges related to his 2018 purchase of a firearm and his past narcotics use. Special counsel David Weiss brought the charges in Delaware after the collapse of an initial plea agreement. He will face sentencing in mid-October.

“This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine," Trump campaign national Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. "Crooked Joe Biden’s reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit."

The first family has long faced scrutiny over its alleged illicit dealings and influence peddling, with Republicans on the House Oversight and Judiciary panels notably conducting high-profile investigations into their financial dealings.

President Joe Biden, for his part, has insisted he will not pardon his son, but expressed his continued love and support for him.

"As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery," he said. "As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that."