Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to an illegal gun possession charge on Tuesday, marking the latest chapter in the challenges he faces as his father, President Joe Biden, prepares to run for reelection next year.

Hunter Biden, 53, arrived in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, without responding to the crowd of assembled reporters.

He pleaded not guilty to three felony charges coming from his purchase of a.38-caliber Colt Cobra revolver in 2018 when, according to him, he was seriously addicted to drugs and barely in control of his life.

Hunter Biden is charged with two counts of making false statements for saying on documentation required for the gun purchase that he was not using drugs illegally at the time.

Based on the same statements, he faces a third charge of illegally possessing the gun, which he had for only 11 days in October 2018 before disposing of it.

Hunter Biden's many legal problems and issues, which include heated charges from Republican legislators that he engaged in fraudulent business activities in China and Ukraine, are a persistent drag on his father's political position as he runs for another term in 2024.

Republicans have launched an impeachment investigation in Congress based on what they allege is a criminal conspiracy involving the Biden family, but they have offered no evidence that the president did anything wrong.

In reaction to the steady drip-drip of scandal, Joe Biden has frequently stated that he supports his son and admires his efforts to recover from drug addiction.

Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden's lawyer, had urged Judge Christopher Burke to let Biden, who resides in California, to testify via video rather than in person, but the motion was denied.

"The defendant should not receive any special treatment in this matter," Burke stated in his decision.

Hunter Biden may face up to 25 years in prison if convicted, though in fact such actions, if not accompanied by other counts, are rarely punished by any jail time.