The son of President Joe Biden, Hunter, has been criminally indicted by special counsel David Weis on three counts of lying when buying a firearm.
The indictment historically marks the first time the child of a sitting president has been criminally prosecuted.
The prosecution, which would most likely begin in 2024, represents a big blow for Hunter and his father, who is standing for the presidential election next year.
In July, a proposed plea bargain to resolve gun and tax-related charges he faced suddenly collapsed.
All three counts relate to Mr. Biden allegedly lying on forms while buying a firearm when he was a drug user.
According to the BBC, court documents show that Mr. Biden lied on the federally mandated forms as he purchased a Colt revolver at a Delaware gun store in October 2018, keeping the gun for 11 days.
At the time of the gun purchase, Mr. Biden was a heavy user of crack cocaine.
Under US federal laws, it is a crime to lie on such documentation or possess a firearm while a drug user.
If convicted, Mr. Biden faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, the Justice Department said in a statement. Actual sentences for federal crimes are usually less than the maximum possible penalties.
