Hunter Biden guilty: What it means for the president

Hello. Today a jury in the US state of Delaware found President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, guilty of lying about his drug use when he purchased a handgun. Anthony Zurcher tells us what it means for the president running for a second term, and Bernd Debusmann Jr takes us inside the courtroom. We're also reporting on sextortion scams, which are on the rise on a global scale - often conducted from Nigeria, with victims across English-speaking countries. The end of our newsletter will delight the medieval history buffs among our readers.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What son’s conviction means for Biden

Hunter Biden leaving the courthouse with First Lady Dr Jill Biden and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden. Credit: EPA

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter has been found guilty of making false statements and illegal gun possession in a Delaware court. This is the first time a sitting president's child has been found guilty of a crime.

What is this conviction going to change for the election?

Hunter Biden’s conviction is unlikely to change the direction of the presidential campaign or how Americans vote in November's election. His father's name will be on the ballot, not his. There's no evidence connecting Joe Biden to the charged offences. And there has been scant polling evidence that the American public is following this trial closely.‌

And what about the president personally?

The guilty verdict will surely be a difficult personal blow for a US president who doubles as the patriarch of a tight-knit family that has seen its share of personal tragedy and trauma. Hunter Biden’s legal drama isn’t over, though. And his September trial on charges of failing to pay $1.4m in federal income taxes may pose a greater risk for the president.

Why is that?

Coming just months before the presidential election, that tax case may not contain the raw emotion on display in the Delaware courtroom, but Hunter’s foreign business dealings and his financial ties to the president have been a source of continued scrutiny by Biden’s Republican critics. Drug addiction and the consequences of it have touched many American lives. Allegations of financial impropriety and tax fraud, however, may generate less sympathy from the American voting public.

THE BIG PICTURE

How Michael Mosley made us healthier

Michael Mosley was often the guinea pig trying out his own recommendations. Credit: BBC

Health journalist Michael Mosley, who died last week after going missing in Greece, was beloved in the UK and internationally thanks to his podcast Just One Thing. Philippa Roxby has picked five tips from the science communicator that have changed people's lives.

And finally... in England

For a total of 172 days between 25 June and 13 December 1266, Kenilworth Castle was under constant attack in one of the longest sieges in English history when the country was in the grip of civil war under Henry III. Further evidence of the conflict's intensity was found during a project to improve accessibility at the castle, when eight catapult shots were discovered "perfectly preserved".