Hunter Biden Wasn't Dishonorably Discharged

Tracy Davenport

Politics

5th October 2020

Hunter Biden Wasn't Dishonorably Discharged

Hunter's discharge was brought up during the first debate (Getty Images).

The Claim

Hunter Biden received a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Navy.

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Emerging story

After the first presidential debate on September 29, 2020, many on social media claimed that Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, received a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Navy.

Misbar’s Analysis

In the first presidential debate, President Trump stated, “Hunter got thrown out of the military. He was thrown out, dishonorably discharged, cocaine use.” This accusation was referring to Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.

Robert Hunter Biden, who goes by Hunter, is the second son of 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden. Hunter Biden has worked as a lobbyist, business owner, and international board member. He has openly struggled for decades with alcohol and drug abuse.

Hunter Biden was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in May, 2013 and assigned as a public affairs officer in a Norfolk, Virginia reserve unit. A month later, he tested positive for cocaine, and he was discharged in February. A U.S. official told CNN that standard procedure for a failed drug test is administrative discharge.

According to the VA, there are two types of discharges from the military: administrative discharge and punitive discharge.

Hunter Biden was given an administrative discharge. Dishonorable discharge falls under the category of punitive discharge. A dishonorable discharge is the worst anyone in the military can receive. It can only be given by a general court-martial for the highest of offenses which are often accompanied by a prison sentence in a military prison.