Hunter Biden , President Joe Biden s son, has been indicted by federal prosecutors on gun charges.

The three charges stem from an investigation by special counsel David Weiss, whom U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed last month to explore possible wrongdoing by the presidents son.

Two charges concern Hunter Biden, 53, allegedly submitting a form falsely stating that he was not using illegal narcotics when he purchased a Colt Cobra revolver in 2018, and one concerns him allegedly possessing that firearm while using narcotics.

Biden took those actions knowing that he was an unlawful user of and addicted to any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance, the indictment reads.

The presidents son has said himself, in his memoir and in a court filing, that he was smoking crack every 15 minutes , around the time he bought the gun, adding that he believes his addiction stems from the trauma of surviving a car crash that killed his mother and baby sister in 1972. He also said he didnt quit drugs and alcohol until meeting his current wife in 2019.

The gun possession charge was originally part of a plea deal that fell apart in July when the judge overseeing the case scrutinized the details of the plea agreement, which would have had Biden submitting guilty pleas on a misdemeanor tax charge and entering an alcohol and drug diversion program instead of pleading guilty on the possession charge.

Shortly after, the White House made it clear that the president would not pardon his son on any potential convictions.