WILMINGTON, Del. >> A jury in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday found Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son, guilty of three felony counts for lying on a federal firearms application, a shattering blow for the Biden family in the middle of an unforgiving presidential election campaign.

The verdict brought an end to an extraordinary seven-day trial that made painfully public Biden’s crack addiction, reckless behavior and ruinous spending — narrated by three former romantic partners, including the widow of his brother, Beau Biden, and by the defendant himself in the pages of his memoir.

The charges that Biden was convicted of stem from the purchase of a Colt pistol in October 2018, and also included illegal possession of a weapon after falsely claiming to be drug-free on the standard background check required in all firearms transactions.

Biden, 54, faces up to 25 years in prison, although federal sentencing guidelines call for a fraction of that penalty. First-time offenders who did not use their weapons to commit violent crimes typically see little jail time, and prosecutors suggested they would not seek a sentence more severe than for any other person convicted in such a case.

As the verdict was read aloud, Hunter Biden stood with his arms crossed, grimly surveying the jury. When it was all over, he hugged and kissed his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden.

“I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome,” he said in a statement shortly after.

Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, suggested that he might appeal, vowing to “vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter.”

It is unclear what, if any, political implications the verdict will have. Former President Donald Trump, facing two federal indictments, pounced on the conviction. But other Republicans have expressed skepticism about the trial, and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who is allied with Trump, said on social media that the conviction was “kinda dumb.”

But the verdict was nothing short of a personal catastrophe for Biden.

A year ago, Biden, who has been sober since mid-2019, reached a plea agreement with the government that would have allowed him to participate in a counseling program for people who commit nonviolent firearms offenses in lieu of prosecution or prison time.

But the deal imploded under intense questioning from the judge presiding in the case. He faces another trial in September stemming from his failure to pay his income taxes during a yearslong crack, alcohol and spending binge.

The Delaware case, brought by special counsel David C. Weiss, is widely regarded as the least serious of the two federal indictments against Biden brought last year. But Tuesday’s guilty verdict raises the stakes for any future sentencing if he is convicted in the second trial.

Joe Biden has said he will not pardon his son and kept his distance from the trial. He shifted his schedule after the verdict to visit his son in Wilmington. He is scheduled to leave Wednesday for the Group of 7 summit in Italy.

“I am the president, but I am also a dad,” the president said in a statement. “I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.”

Jurors reached their verdict after just three hours and five minutes of deliberations.