Gavin Howe
Hunter Biden, son of former US President Joe Biden, has had a chequered past. From drug abuse to tax evasion, he has been embroiled in several controversies. In 2024, he was found guilty of three felony counts related to purchasing a firearm while lying about his drug addiction. This led to the suspension of his law license in Washington, D.C., where he had been licensed to practice since 2007. Despite earning a law degree from Yale Law School in 1996, Biden has not actively practised law in recent years. Instead, he has held various positions, including consultant, executive vice president, lobbyist, and co-founder of multiple firms. With a history of legal troubles, it remains uncertain whether Hunter Biden will ever resume practising law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of graduation from law school | 1996 |
| Law school attended | Georgetown University Law Center for one year, then transferred to Yale Law School |
| Year of being licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C. | 2007 |
| Convicted of three federal gun charges | 2024 |
| Suspension of law license | 2024 |
| Year of agreeing to be stripped of license to practice law in D.C. | 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
Hunter Biden's law license suspension
Hunter Biden, son of former US President Joe Biden, has had his law license suspended. Biden was admitted to the D.C. Bar in 2007 and has been licensed to practice law in the nation's capital since then. However, he has not actively practiced law in recent years, instead holding a position at a law firm that coincided with his father's vice presidency.
In June 2024, Biden was found guilty on three charges related to the purchase of a firearm in 2018: making a false statement on a purchase application, making a false statement to a federally licensed gun dealer, and possession of a gun by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. He was also facing three felony and six misdemeanor tax offense charges.
Following his felony conviction, the D.C. Bar suspended Biden's law license. The D.C. Court of Appeals' Board on Professional Responsibility then recommended that the Court accept Biden's consent to disbarment, which he agreed to in April 2025. This decision allowed Biden to avoid potentially protracted proceedings over whether his criminal cases required him to lose his law license. As a result, he is now under ""Temp Disciplinary Suspension" and will be officially disbarred if the D.C. Court of Appeals accepts the recommendation.
In addition to his legal troubles, Biden has also faced financial difficulties, with a significant downturn in his income and debt in the millions. His father, then-President Joe Biden, pardoned him for any offenses against the US that he "has committed or may have committed" before leaving office in 2024. Despite this, Biden's legal career appears to have come to an end, with his license to practice law in Washington, D.C., now stripped.
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Lying about drug use when purchasing a firearm
Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, has been at the centre of several controversies, including one surrounding his purchase of a firearm. In 2024, Biden agreed to be stripped of his license to practice law in Washington, D.C., following a guilty plea for lying about his drug use when purchasing a firearm in 2018.
When buying a gun, individuals in the US must fill out Form 4473, also known as the Firearm Transaction Record. This form asks buyers a series of questions, including whether they are the actual buyer of the firearm and if they are addicted to drugs. Lying on this form is considered a federal violation and can lead to severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison.
In the case of Hunter Biden, he was accused of answering "no" to the question about unlawful drug use and addiction when purchasing a gun in 2018. This accusation was particularly notable because Biden had been discharged from the Navy Reserve five years prior for drug use, and his 2021 memoir, "Beautiful Things," detailed his struggles with addiction to crack cocaine. Despite the controversy, Biden did not face charges for lying on the form, highlighting the rarity of prosecutions for this specific offence.
The controversy surrounding Hunter Biden's gun purchase and his subsequent disbarment is just one example of the challenges he has faced in recent years. In addition to his legal troubles, Biden has also dealt with issues related to tax offenses and Secret Service protection.
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Three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanour tax offenses
Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, has had his fair share of legal troubles. In June 2024, he was found guilty of lying about his drug use when purchasing a firearm in 2018. This incident led to the suspension of his law license, as he was found guilty of three felony counts.
The younger Biden had a long history of drug abuse, which was documented in his 2021 memoir, "Beautiful Things". Despite his struggles with addiction, he earned a law degree from Yale Law School and was licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C. since 2007. However, he had not actively practised law in recent years.
In addition to his legal woes, Hunter Biden faced tax-related charges. He pleaded guilty in federal court in Los Angeles to three felony tax offences and six misdemeanour tax offences. According to the indictment, Hunter Biden engaged in a four-year scheme where he failed to pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes for the years 2016 to 2019. He also evaded tax assessments for the year 2018 by filing false returns.
The specific details of the three felony tax offences and six misdemeanour tax offences are as follows:
- Willfully failing to pay his 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 taxes on time, despite having access to funds: This offence falls under the category of tax evasion, which is considered a felony under IRC 7201. It involves the willful attempt to evade or defeat the payment of imposed taxes.
- Willfully failing to file his 2017 and 2018 tax returns on time: This offence is classified as a misdemeanour under IRC 7203, which pertains to the failure to file an income tax return. While it is not explicitly considered tax evasion, it still involves the non-payment of taxes and is treated as a serious offence.
- Including false business deductions in his 2018 tax returns to reduce his substantial tax liability: This offence is another form of tax evasion, as it involves providing false information to reduce tax obligations. It falls under the felony category and is considered a serious violation.
- Misdemeanour tax offences: The six misdemeanour tax offences likely include additional instances of failing to pay taxes or file returns on time, similar to the felony offences. These offences are treated as less severe but still carry penalties such as fines or imprisonment.
- And 6. Misdemeanour tax offences: The specific nature of these offences is not publicly available, but they likely involve similar instances of non-compliance with tax laws, such as failing to report income, underreporting taxes, or providing false information.
The exact breakdown of the remaining misdemeanour tax offences is not publicly available, but they contribute to Hunter Biden's overall tax-related legal troubles.
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History of drug abuse
Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, has had a long history of drug abuse. In June 2024, he was found guilty of lying about his drug use when purchasing a firearm in 2018. Biden had purchased a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver from a federally licensed firearms dealer, Gordon Cleveland, and was accused of bypassing laws that would have made him ineligible to purchase the weapon due to his drug addiction. This incident led to his law license being suspended in Washington, D.C., where he had been licensed to practice since 2007.
Biden's struggle with addiction is well-documented in his 2021 memoir, "Beautiful Things." In the book, he candidly discusses his highs and lows with addiction to crack cocaine and his attempts to achieve sobriety. The memoir was referenced extensively during his trial, which lasted nearly seven days. Despite his legal troubles, Biden received a sweeping pardon from his father in December 2024 for offenses against the United States that he "had committed or may have committed" before the pardon.
While Biden's felony conviction resulted in the suspension of his law license, it is possible that he could have it reinstated if the felony conviction is overturned on appeal. The future of his license rests with the Board on Professional Responsibility, which has been directed to institute a formal disciplinary proceeding to determine the nature of the misconduct.
Biden's history of drug abuse has had significant repercussions on his career and legal standing. The suspension of his law license and the possibility of prison time have brought attention to the Biden family and their struggles.
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Pardoned by his father, President Joe Biden
Hunter Biden, son of former US President Joe Biden, has had a long history of drug abuse and legal troubles. In June 2024, he was found guilty of lying about his drug use when purchasing a firearm in 2018. This led to his law license being suspended by the DC Bar due to the felony conviction.
In December 2024, facing three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses, Hunter was pardoned by his father, President Joe Biden, for offenses against the US that he "had committed or may have committed" before leaving office. This pardon likely aided Hunter in his legal troubles, but it did not prevent the loss of his law license.
In April 2025, court records showed that Hunter agreed to be stripped of his license to practice law in Washington, DC, bringing an end to his legal career. While he earned his law degree from Yale Law School and passed the DC Bar in 1996, Hunter had not worked as a lawyer in recent years. Instead, he pursued various business ventures, including consulting, lobbying, and serving on the boards of companies like BHR Partners and Rosemont Seneca Partners.
Despite the pardon from his father, the loss of his law license and the ongoing revocation of his Secret Service protection by President Trump in March 2025, highlight the challenges and scrutiny faced by Hunter Biden, particularly in the aftermath of his father's presidency.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Hunter Biden was licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C., since 1996.
Hunter Biden's law license was suspended after he was found guilty of three felony counts in a criminal gun charges trial.
Yes, court records show that Hunter Biden agreed to be disbarred from practicing law in Washington, D.C.
After graduating from law school, Hunter Biden accepted a consultant position at the bank holding company MBNA. He then served at the United States Department of Commerce, focusing on ecommerce policy for President Bill Clinton's administration. In 2001, he co-founded the lobbying firm Oldaker, Biden & Belair.
