Sunny Hostin feels Hunter Biden should plead guilty to LA tax charges after his conviction in federal gun trial

'The View' hosts discussed President Joe Buden's son Hunter Biden's conviction in the federal gun trial and its political implications.
PUBLISHED JUN 13, 2024
Sunny Hostin advised Hunter Biden to plead guilty to tax charges in LA on the June 12, 2024, episode of 'The View' (Getty Images)
Sunny Hostin advised Hunter Biden to plead guilty to tax charges in LA on the June 12, 2024, episode of 'The View' (Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: 'The View' host Sunny Hostin felt that Hunter Biden should plead guilty to his pending tax charges in Los Angeles after the latter got convicted in his federal gun trial on Tuesday, June 11.

Sitting with her co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Joy Behar, and Alyssa Farah, Griffin at the Hot Topics table on Wednesday, Hostin shared that she supported President Joe Biden's son being held accountable for his actions, and agreed with Goldberg's claim that the conviction proved that the justice system was functioning as it should.

Hunter Biden was found guilty by a Wilmington, Delaware, jury on three counts of federal felony gun charges, two of which related to the purchase of a firearm, and the third for possessing it while being addicted to a controlled substance. He could face up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000 at sentencing, CNN reported.


WILMINGTON, DELAWARE - JUNE 11: Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, joined by his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, returns to court at the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 11, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware. Reports indicate that jurors have reached a verdict in Hunter Biden's trial on felony gun charges. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Hunter Biden, joined by his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, returns to court at the J Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 11, 2024, in Wilmington, Delaware. (Getty Images)

Sunny Hostin's take on Hunter Biden's conviction

"It was a very easy case to prove - three counts, they (jury) took three hours to deliberate," Hostin began after Goldberg broached the subject. "But in these kinds of cases - somebody filling out a form who is addicted to drugs and lies about being addicted to drugs - about 0.9% of those cases go to trial."

"So that in and of itself makes it feel like a political prosecution, but I don't feel that way. I think no one is above the law. He (Hunter Biden) committed a crime, and now he will pay the consequences," she continued.

"I don't think as a first offender and as an addict, because you're always an addict ... I think a drug diversion program is appropriate. He will never own a firearm again, because he is a felon. I don't think if you're an addict you should own a firearm - it's a safety thing for yourself and for society."

"But I will say this - he has a tax trial coming up in September, and if you already have a prior conviction, you are much more likely to serve prison time. I would imagine his lawyers are telling him, 'Go and talk to LA, go and talk to the US Attorney's Office. Plead guilty and let's put this away so that your father can continue just running for President and you yourself can get on with your life," she concluded.



 

Political implications of Hunter Biden and Donald Trump's convictions

Griffin wondered if the conviction of Hunter Biden would have any political implications for the Democrats in the upcoming election, saying, "I don't know if this has particular political impacts for Joe Biden. Hunter Biden's name is not on any ballot, two-thirds of Americans have addiction in their family... I think there is tremendous sympathy for someone who has gone through recovery."

She juxtaposed the situation with that of the presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump, who was convicted on 34 federal felony charges for falsifying business documents on May 30. 

Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes.(Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower on May 30, 2024, in New York City (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

"I have been waiting on some data around this, but it proved what I suspected. 52% of independents think he (Trump) should drop out of the race because he is a convicted felon. 16% of Republicans think he should drop out of the race ... and that second number is important to me because that shows models the protest votes we saw in GOP primaries ... I think there is this portion of the Republican Party who still believes in conservative values, in the rule of law, the American justice system, that does not want Donald Trump in office," she stated.

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