The 4 different ways Republicans are reacting to the Hunter Biden verdict
- Hunter Biden has been convicted on three felony gun charges.
- Republicans seem divided on what to make of it.
- Some of them are celebrating it, while others say it's a ruse. Some even seem to be defending him.
Hunter Biden was convicted on Tuesday of three federal charges related to him purchasing a gun while using illegal drugs.
It's the first time that the child of a sitting US president has been convicted of a crime. And it comes less than two weeks after former President Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts in New York.
One might expect Republicans to be unanimously cheering the decision — to the extent that it will affect the presidential election at all, it's likely to hurt President Joe Biden more than it helps.
Yet that's not how all Republicans are reacting.
That's because much of the party has argued in recent years that the Biden administration has targeted former President Donald Trump, and the conviction of the president's son complicates that idea.
"This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family," said Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt following the verdict.
Also, some Republicans happen to like guns.
Here are the four different ways the GOP is responding to the conviction.
It's not enough
While Republicans who go with this line aren't criticizing the conviction, they argue that there's much more out there.
Today’s verdict for Hunter Biden is only the beginning in @HouseGOP's pursuit for accountability. I continue to support our investigations into the real crime, the Biden family’s corrupt influence peddling scheme.
— Daniel Webster (@RepWebster) June 11, 2024
Congressional Republicans have long been investigating the Biden family, aiming to eventually impeach the president on charges of influencing-peddling related to his son's business dealings — though it appears increasingly unlikely.
Some Republicans are also pointing out that Hunter Biden initially had a plea deal with the federal government, only for it to fall apart.
They want you to forget DOJ was giving Hunter Biden a sweetheart deal with FULL immunity for ALL crimes against the United States until the Judge asked questions.
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) June 11, 2024
It's a sham or a smoke screen
More than a few Republicans are arguing that the conviction is some sort of smoke screen or ruse — either to cover up for more grave crimes supposedly committed by the Biden family, or to create the appearance of impartial justice.
"Hunter Biden just became the Deep State's sacrificial lamb to show that Justice is 'balanced' while the other Biden crimes remain ignored," wrote Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
The biggest crimes of the Biden Crime Family remain untouched.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene???????? (@RepMTG) June 11, 2024
Millions of dollars from foreign influence peddling into Joe Biden’s bank account.
Hunter Biden just became the Deep State’s sacrificial lamb to show that Justice is “balanced” while the other Biden crimes remain…
Similarly, Stephen Miller — a top Trump advisor on immigration-related matters — argued that the conviction constituted an "easy op for DJ to sell to a pliant media."
"This is all about protecting Joe Biden and only Joe Biden," Miller wrote.
The gun charges are a giant misdirection. An easy op for DOJ to sell to a pliant media that is all too willing to be duped. Don’t be gaslit. This is all about protecting Joe Biden and only Joe Biden.
— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) June 11, 2024
It's justice served
Some Republicans, believe it or not, are indeed satisfied with the result.
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said that Hunter Biden's actions had given "law-abiding, Second Amendment-loving gun owners a bad name," while praising the conviction as the right decision.
It is people like Hunter Biden who lie on background checks that give law-abiding, Second Amendment-loving gun owners a bad name. It is right that he got convicted. No one is above the law, not even the president's son.
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) June 11, 2024
Rep. Josh Brecheen, a freshman House Freedom Caucus member from Oklahoma, also celebrated the verdict.
BREAKING: Hunter Biden has just been convicted of all 3 felony charges in his federal gun trial.
— Congressman Josh Brecheen (@RepBrecheen) June 11, 2024
I am glad to see that justice has been served.
Nobody is above the law, including the President’s son.
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan — a GOP Senate candidate who got in trouble with Trumpworld for urging people to respect the verdict in Trump's case — simply said "we must respect the legal process."
We must respect the legal process. Today and everyday.
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) June 11, 2024
It's a travesty
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, an idiosyncratic libertarian, isn't a fan of the gun charges.
"There are millions of marijuana users who own guns in this country, and none of them should be in jail for purchasing or possessing a firearm against current laws," said Massie.
Hunter might deserve to be in jail for something, but purchasing a gun is not it.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 11, 2024
There are millions of marijuana users who own guns in this country, and none of them should be in jail for purchasing or possessing a firearm against current laws.
And top Trump ally Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida — without elaborating — said that the conviction is "kinda dumb."
The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh.
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) June 11, 2024