President Joe Biden knew that his son Hunter was going through a drug crisis in October of 2018 and spoke to him soon after the First Son lied on a federal form in order to buy a gun. 

Hunter Biden was indicted Thursday by Special Prosecutor David Weiss on three charges for gun crimes, charges that carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Hunter had indicated on the Firearm Transaction Record that he was not using drugs, which, of course—as he admitted in his memoir—was false. 

The president spoke to Hunter just three days after the fraudulent purchase:

Joe Biden left his son a voicemail on October 15, 2018 sounding close to tears and begging him to get help, just three days after Hunter bought a .38 caliber Colt revolver from a Delaware store by lying on a federal form that he was not a drug addict...

The charges mean Hunter will now likely face a damaging trial dragging into his father's presidential campaign in 2024 – and may just be the first of more indictments, including tax and potential illegal foreign lobbying or money laundering offenses.

Joe was painfully aware of his son's addictions and begged him to get help. A voicemail recovered from Hunter's infamous "Laptop from Hell" features the then-vice president talking to a strung-out Hunter and struggling to contain his emotions. Even though I am a harsh critic of Joe Biden and his policies, I can't help but feel empathy for him in this particular situation.

'It's Dad. I called to tell you I love you. I love you more than the whole world pal,' Joe said in the October 15 message. 'You gotta get some help. I know you don't know what to do, I don't either.'

Listen:

The president has been taking his son's legal troubles hard, as I've reported, and aides are terrified to bring up the subject because they're worried about angering him.

Report: Biden Obsesses Over Coverage of Hunter, Aides Afraid to Even Mention the Prodigal Son

Liberal outfits like the New York Times are finally admitting that Biden's shady business transactions with Hunter as well as the First Son's own legal problems are costing the president politically as he gears up his efforts for reelection in 2024:

Insiders: Biden's Loyalty to Embattled Son Hunter Has 'Created Unexpected Political Peril' for President

Before the indictment dropped, Biden was struggling to cope with the news that it was coming:

He plunged into sadness and frustration, according to several people close to him who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preserve their relationships with the Biden family. Since then, his tone in conversations about Hunter has been tinged with a resignation that was not there before, his confidants say.

Biden brought a lot of this on himself, however. He has repeatedly said that he never discussed business with his son, but more and more evidence keeps coming out that that's simply not true. 

Joe Biden claiming last October that his son did nothing wrong and that the gun issue was insignificant. Hunter Biden was indicted today. WATCHpic.twitter.com/n2YBAQItFh

— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) September 14, 2023

House investigators, meanwhile, are looking into millions of dollars of Chinese money that appeared in various Biden family bank accounts. As vice president, he also brought Hunter along on official foreign trips to at least 13 different countries—flying aboard Air Force Two—and Hunter would promptly sign lucrative business contracts with companies like Ukrainian natural gas giant Burisma (a job for which he had no experience). 

As Republicans ramp up their impeachment efforts, it's clear that the president's problems, most of which involve Hunter, are not going anywhere.