headquarters in new york city. 2:56. that's the length of the deliberation by hunter biden's jury to convict him on all three felony counts, tied to lying on a federal form about his drug use in order to get a gun. any moment now, special counsel david weiss will speak about the verdict and we will have that for you live. now, the question facing the president's son, the same one facing joe biden's political opponent, donald trump. will he be sentenced to time behind bars? and the other big question -- what will president biden say about all of this? although he released a written statement saying he accepts the outcome of the case, the president will have his first chance to respond on camera later this hour, when he talks about gun safety in washington, d.c. big picture, this has been a trial defined not just by the law but by what it says about the criminal justice system and what it says about the biden family and close friends. as many as 15 supporters showing up on any given day, including the first lady of the united states on five of those days. our team inside the courtroom, that hunter biden nodded as the verdict was read. he hugged his attorneys and kissed his wife, before leaving with her and the first lady about 90 minutes ago. the judge set a sentencing date with possibility of time behind bars. but the certainty this verdict will resonate beyond the courtroom, into the living rooms of millions of americans who know themselves or through family and friends, the devastation of addiction that was at the heart of this case and notably into a presidential campaign that's unprecedented on so many levels. let's begin with the legal questions. i want to bring in ken dilanian outside of the courthouse in wilmington, delaware. andrew weissmann is a former senior member of the mueller probe. and katherine christian in studio. ken, what happens now? >> as we await remarks from the special counsel, we have a statement from abbe lowell, the lead defense attorney. he said we're disappointed by today's verdict. we respect the jury process and we will pursue all the legal challenges available to hunter. through all these been in recovery, including this trial, hunter is grateful for and blessed by the love and support of his family. hunter biden released a statement saying he was more grateful for the support he's gotten from friends and family than he is chagrinned by the verdict in this case. what's next, obviously, is a sentencing date that the judge will set a certain point from now, some time within 120 days. and this case, the conviction here, chris, significantly complicates his situation in the trial that he's facing in september, which, arguably, is the more serious of the two felony cases against him. the multiple tax felony charges. if he is convicted in that case, he will no longer be a person without a criminal record. that could significantly impact his sentence in that case, in the tax case. lots of repercussions stemming from the felony conviction of hunter biden, chris. >> katherine, what's your reaction? and what's your take on how and why it came down so quickly? or maybe in a case it is not quick but felt like it to us. >> our reaction is it's a fair and justice verdict, but a sad verdict. they offered hunter biden a diversion program and they were going to dismiss the charges. it's sad because of the fact of the case. it's quick because there was no defense other than, he wrote this book about being an addict. you heard him on the book tape, saying he was an addict. but at the time he checked it off in his head, he didn't believe he was one. that was all they had. and the jury did their job. they did not let sympathy, you know, get in the way. >> we look what is happening now. the former president had his information interview. that's going to go for hunter biden, as well. give us a sense of how sentencing will unfold. >> it's very similar. even though the donald trump case is a state case, as catherine has noted in our office, this is a federal case. but the two systems in maine work similarly, in that there is an interview by the probation department that looks at characteristics of the offense and characteristics with respect to the offender. the fact it's a first-time offense, whether there's any mitigating circumstances. and then, what is the offense about? the same way that was done with respect to donald trump, it will be done with respect to hunter biden. both sides will get to weigh in and be heard by the judge. the defendant in both cases get to be heard by the judge. and then, the judge makes a decision as to what this sentence will be. we know there is a date with respect to donald trump. it's july 11th. this will take a couple of months at least for the probation department and that process to be undertaken with respect to hunter biden. i do think when you pull back, chris, and look at the two cases. one, as catherine said, you have an example of jurors in both systems, not really caring about whether it is the son of the president or a former president, and not being moved one way or the other, in terms of favor and just doing their job. you see the rule of law in this country at its best. and you also have the way in which the defendant and the defendant's family has responded to that rule of law. and there couldn't be a greater contrast there. that is where i think the biggest, to me, the biggest impact, the import of what we are seeing, is that contrast between the current president and his family, including the defendant, hunter biden, accepting what happened, not attacking the jurors, not attacking witnesses, not attacking the judge. you have a president who could have told the justice department not to go forward, who could have pardoned his son. none of that is happening. all of it is a respect for our institutions. and with respect to the former president, it's anything but that. >> the jury, andrew, obviously they have been able to look aside, or not consider, this was the son of a president of the united states. but you can't ignore the political implications in all of you that are in this business know what these last several years have been like, in terms of attacks on the system. we're getting a ton of them already, reaction, saying this was essentially illegitimate. for example, senator tom contin, hunter may be guilty of these crimes but so are joe biden and d.o.j. of political corruption. i'm looking at the podium and i want to ask you about special counsel david weiss. he made history as the first person to testify before a congressional committee in the midst of a probe. he was appointed to lead the ongoing criminal investigation into hunter biden. now, we are waiting for him to speak, andrew. what do you think he is going to say? and are you surprised he is going to say anything? >> great questions. let me take the last question first. the unusual nature of his speaking now, is that this prosecution is not over. there are charges, tax charges, that are pending that are going to be tried in september. and so, it's going to be very important for the special counsel, not to be commenting in any way, shape or form, on that part of an ongoing criminal case. he has to be very careful in terms of what he says here because of the ongoing nature. the second, going to the propriety. there's no question that there was a very strong case. that's why the jury came back so quickly, as catherine correctly observed. there wasn't much of a defense here other than really jury nullification. and the jury did their job here. but there's two issues when you're a prosecutor. one is can you bring a case? does this -- do the facts warrant it? but the more important question is, should you bring a case? so, that is the one where even if you do have the proof, you don't bring every case that could be brought. and there's lots of reasons for that. since is this the crime that you would routinely bring? are you bringing it or in any way influenced by the name of the person? those allegations were made with respect to dch. you don't want to bring a case just because it's donald trump. the same way you don't want to bring charges because it is hunter biden. i think those are legitimate questions i think are always asked and should be asked when you're bringing cases with respect to political figures or family members of political figures because it's incumbent upon the department of justice to act without fear or favor. there's no question on the underlying facts, the jury's conclusion here is one that no fair-minded person could say, that it's not based on the facts and the law as it currently exists. >> we're getting our first view inside that jury deliberation room, catherine. cnn was able to speak to one juror anonymously. here's what they said about the process. >> yesterday, when the case was handed over to us, we went to the deliberating room. we weren't there that long to late in the evening. so, we just decided, okay, the first thing we're going to do is let's vote now and see how the count was. we voted and it was 6-6. now, i don't believe that any of them were trying to change their minds. we weren't trying to change anybody's mind. it's just the fact that i think they said no because they want more information. they want to talk more about the case. >> so, they came back today. they talked more about the case. i think it is always interesting to people who are not part of the system to know that you can go in, 6-6, and a couple of hours later later you come in with everybody finding him guilty on all three charges. i wonder what you make of this. i think the jury really wanted to talk about the case. that's taking that seriously. we just got the case. let's give it more time and let's discuss it. we know where we want to vote but let's make sure we're on the same page. this is a guilty verdict. this is a big deal. that's what they did. they took their oath seriously. sad verdict. but legally correct verdict. they followed the law. >> i think we're probably getting close because they're testing the mics. i may have to interrupt you. i'm curious, catherine, i would be surprised for exactly the reasons that andrew pointed out, if david weiss took any questions. he is probably going to make a statement. that will probably be it. if there was a question, given the atmosphere surrounding hunter biden and this case and the criticism that came quickly despite of the guilty verdict, what's your question for him? >> i would -- first of all, he shouldn't answer any questions. if he did, i would sort of, you know, erase this thing that this was the prosecution that was selective or it should have been, you know, harsher. he shouldn't answer that question. if he wanted to erase that, he followed the facts, the rule of law, and that's why he brought this prosecution. he shouldn't answer any questions. and the reality is, the d.o.j. right now, downtown manhattan, there's a democrat who is a senator, on trial. so, to say the biden and d.o.j. is only going after trump and republicans is inaccurate. >> ken, ken dilanian, to say this is tricky stuff, maybe understates it. >> you know, that's a great point that catherine just made. we cannot say enough that this is the biden justice department. it's independent. but it's part of the biden administration, that prosecuted the son of the president. and they are prosecuting other democrats right now. it's ironic that just today, attorney general merrick garland has an op-ed in "the washington post," really pushing back hard on unfair demagoguery and criticism of the justice department. suggesting it was corrupt. >> i need to interrupt you. david weiss. >> i'm david weiss. i'm special counsel. earlier today, hunter biden was convicted of two counts of lying on a form submitted to a federal firearms dealer about his addiction or use of crack-cocaine and possessing a firearm while a user or addict. there have been two overarching themes emphasized by the prosecution during trial. this defendant's illegal choices and the rule of law. first, while there has been much testimony about the defendant's abuse of drugs and alcohol, ultimately this case was not just about addiction. a disease that haunts families across the united states, incluing hunter biden's family. this case was about the illegal choices the defendant made while in the throes of addiction. his choice to lie on a government form when he bought a gun. and the choice to then possess that gun. it was these choices and the combination of guns and drugs, that made his conduct dangerous. second, no one in this country is above the law. everyone must be accountable for their actions, even this defendant. however, hunter biden should be no more accountable than any other citizen convicted of this same conduct. the prosecution has been and will continue to be committed to this principle and to the principles of federal prosecution in carrying out its responsibilities. i want to thank the jury for their service. there are few civic responsibilities more important than jury service. 15 delawareans came to court each day and performed their responsibilities in a professional and conscientious manner. we thank them. i want to thank derek heinz and the special counsel team. i'm so proud of this group of attorneys, agents and litigation professionals. this is a difficult assignment. these folks have been working seven days a week for the last couple months, litigating a variety of issues in district and appellate courts on two coasts. they have given their heart and soul to this work. they represent the best that public service has to offer. i am incredibly grateful. finally, i want to thank attorney general garland for providing the support necessary to fulfill our mission, ensuring we have the independence to appropriately pursue our investigations and prosecutions. as you know, we have additional trials and investigative work to be done. so, i will not entertain questions at this time. our work continues. thank you for your consideration. >> the reporters are trying but special counsel david weiss came to say what he wanted to say, that no one in this country is above the law. and jurors who worked hard on this case found hunter biden guilty on three counts, two related to lying on a government form, one on obtaining a gun while he was in the throes of addiction or under the influence of drugs. and he made it clear, this was not a kals that he said is about addiction. it was about the illegal choices that were made while in the throes of addiction. i want to bring in msnbc justice and legal affairs, anthony coley, senior adviser to merrick garland. lisa rubin is also here on-set and back with us. former fbi general counsel, andrew weissmann and msnbc legal analyst catherine christian. anthony, i want to start with you. i'm looking at some of the reaction that we just heard from members of congress. that includes this from andrew clyde. hunter biden's verdict is an attempt to create the illusion of equal justice. don't fall for it. eric burleson from missouri. while a step in the right direction, he, meaning joe biden -- or hunter biden -- needs to answer for the many crimes he and his father have committed. bob goode, hunter biden is convicted of an actual crime. donald trump was railroaded by a political prosecutor and a bias judge. i can go on and on and on. and i want to get your reaction as you watched somebody who put a good bit of his life on hold to become the special prosecutor in this case. the jurors, who put their lives on hold, to adjudicate, help come to a decision in this case and listened very carefully. did, frankly, what the prosecutor asked them to do, ignore the people who are sitting out there watching, which included the sitting first lady of the united states. and came to what they believed was a justice verdict. i want to get your reaction to what the reaction has been from the right. >> well, chris, i was at the justice department when the attorney general made two out of the three special counsel appointments. he did so in each of the instances to reassure the american people that whatever decision was appropriate, that it was undisputedly determined by facts and the law. that's how we got here. and to those people who, some are saying this was a political prosecution, if this were a political prosecution, then david weiss would have brought these charges when he was a trump-era u.s. attorney. this is what following the facts and following the law looks like. but i'm going to step back and do big picture for a moment. if we really want to -- we really want to take a look at how this is really going over, i'm mindful that hunter biden is not running for president. joe biden is running for president. and i'm more concerned, quite frankly, and thankful, for his reaction to this case. he's reacted, number one, as a father. we would all be so lucky, chris, if we had a father who loved us unconditionally, despite all of our flaws, through the ups and downs of whatever problems we face in our lives. and then, as president, what is so striking, and andrew weissmann alluded to this a couple moments ago, joe biden said he will not pardon his son. to me, that rebuilds the character of a man. and it also rebuilds his respect for the rule of law. in another world, before donald trump entered the scene, all of these republican congressmen, the quotes you just mentioned, they would respect the rule of law. it's a shame that so many people speaking out in this way. what's disheartening is so many moderate and conservative republicans who say they are pro-democracy and pro-constitution, they remain silent while othes on the right, are speaking out in this way. that's disheartening to me. their silence in this moment, against these attacks, is a sign of complicity. >> lisa, there is something else that david weiss said. no one is more accountable than any other citizen. there's people on the other side of this who would argue, that's not true. most cases, correct me if i'm wrong, catherine -- most cases are not brought to trial. most cases are, in fact, finished with a plea agreement of some sort, which is where this one seemed to be headed. is this a case where someone was no more accountable than anyone else? >> i'm not sure that's historically accurate. at least when we think of who has been charged and brought to a jury verdict on charges like these. these are rarely charges that are brought on a standalone basis. the associated press reported last week, of people that are applying for gun permits, less than one-tenth of 1% of people who apply for gun permits are denied those on the basis of the answer of the question at issue here. are you a user of or are you addicted to a controlled substance, a narcotic, a stimulant. that shows how rarely people are denied to own a gun on the basis of this question. i think the point that david weiss is trying to make, is about the sentencing about this conviction. i think what he is trying to convey to people is, we're not going to go for blood here. we're going to be proportional. even though we brought this case, to trial. when it becomes time to sentence hunter biden, we're going to be measured, proportional and take account how these charges are traditionally punished in our system. if someone gets them through a plea or jury verdict, we're going to be measured appropriate. we're not going to try to sentence this guy to ten years, which is the statutory maximum. we're going to think of the other factors that would go into a sentencing recommendation, under the federal sentencing guidelines, that might knock him down to a year or less, or a recommendation of no jail time at all. hunter biden is now married. he's reportedly clean. he's raising a young son. and he is trying to make his living as an artist. by all accounts, his life today is