Hunter Biden's conviction for federal gun charges has sparked many conversations about justice and politicized prosecutions. Most voter opinions seem to align with their political affiliations, but there are pockets within Democrat and Republican partisans who emphasize different aspects of the issue.

Politicized Views of the Hunter Trial

Some Democrats feel frustration with perceived double standards in how the Biden family is treated compared to other political figures. Other Democrats affirm the court as completely unbiased, citing Hunter’s conviction as evidence. They also predict the conviction could generate sympathy for President Biden, citing the possibility of President Biden pardoning Hunter Biden post-election.

Others suggest the timing of the trial may be a strategic tactic by Republicans to divert attention from Donald Trump's conviction. These comments tend to frame the trial as a false distraction meant to create an illusion of nonpartisanship within the DOJ.

Republicans are more likely to feel Hunter's trial as a diversion, intended to draw attention away from more serious allegations about Hunter's alleged influence pedaling in Ukraine and China. Critics claim the DOJ intentionally minimalized charges to shield the “Biden crime family.”

Those on the right also believe Hunter Biden's laptop casually being authenticated during the trial highlights corruption from Democrats and the media who repeatedly denied its authenticity during the 2020 election.

A large part of the conversation on both sides draws comparisons to Donald Trump’s legal troubles. Democrats tend to argue Hunter was convicted to “get back at” Democrats after Trump’s conviction. Conversely, Republicans cite Hunter’s conviction as a performative way for Democrats to claim the courts are unbiased.

Who is the Justice System Weaponized Against?

Critics of the Biden administration view Hunter Biden's conviction as an instance of political favoritism. They argue the DOJ only prosecuted him on gun charges, while ignoring more severe crimes.

Conservatives believe the Biden family is engaging in a two-tier justice system where Democrats often don't face consequences for their actions. They believe the charges brought against Hunter Biden were carefully selected to protect Joe Biden from association with his son’s legal trouble, thus shielding him from political and legal backlash amid a struggling 2024 campaign.

On the other hand, Biden supporters view Hunter Biden’s conviction as evidence the justice system is not biased against conservatives. This groups draws a comparison to Donald Trump Jr., suggesting there should be greater scrutiny of his actions. According to liberals and Democrats, the courts are just for convicting Hunter Biden, but many potential crimes may be going unpunished by Donald Trump Jr., Trump himself, and others.

Hunter’s Laptop

Many Biden critics magnify the significance of Hunter Biden’s laptop. They interpret its authentication during the trial as a confirmation of a media and Democrat coverup. There are also widespread claims Hunter Biden’s laptop confirms many other, more serious crimes.

People call for the accountability of 51 intelligence officials who persistently dismissed the laptop contents as Russian disinformation. Many are vocally critical of Democrat hypocrisy in prosecuting Trump by saying he interfered in the 2020 election. Critics say Democrats were the ones interfering by squashing the laptop story.

Convicting Hunter on insignificant gun charges, some say, is a politicized effort to silence Trump supporters who take issue with the validity of Trump’s multiple prosecutions. This group views the left's narrative of “nobody is above the law” as a blatant double standard.

They also raise concerns about free speech, citing social media suppression of posts about Hunter's laptop in 2020. They are convinced that social media companies and news outlets conspired with the government to suppress dissent.

Biden Speaks at a Gun Control Rally

Soon after Hunter’s conviction, Joe Biden spoke at an event promoting stronger gun control in the U.S. This drew accusations of double standards in enforcing gun laws. Some people find it ironic that Joe Biden would give a speech about gun control while everyone expects he would unhesitatingly pardon his son’s sentence.

Many are incredulous at the timing of this appearance, pointing to the irony of a President advocating for stricter gun laws while his own son is convicted on three federal gun charges. These reactions also include accusations of hypocrisy against Democrats who sympathize with Hunter while holding anti-gun political position.

Meanwhile, those Democrats and gun control activists underscore the importance of thorough background checks to limit access to guns. They argue anyone celebrating Hunter's conviction should embrace stronger gun control laws.

Proponents of gun control see President Biden's speech and actions as an important part of the fight against gun violence. Despite Hunter's conviction, this group largely supports the administrative actions taken to reduce gun violence and establish gun safety measures. They do not view Joe Biden’s stance as hypocritical, but rather view him as a loving father who is unwilling to demonize his son.