Bad news for the Bidens. Vice President Joe Biden's son Hunter is "embarrassed" after it was revealed Thursday, Oct. 16, that he was booted from the Navy this past February after reportedly testing positive for cocaine. The political scion released a statement to NBC News, addressing the scandal through his lawyer.
"It was the honor of my life to serve in the U.S. Navy, and I deeply regret and am embarrassed that my actions led to my administrative discharge," the father of three, 44, said. "I respect the Navy's decision. With the love and support of my family, I'm moving forward."
A U.S. official told NBC News that the Veep's son was booted from the Navy after failing a drug test taken in 2013. It was not until Feb. 14 of this year that he was kicked out for testing positive for cocaine. At the time, Hunter's dismissal was not shared with the public "because he was treated like any other sailor who fails a drug test," the official told NBC, "and is thrown out of the Navy." (The news of Hunter's drug use was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.)
Hunter was an attorney by training in 2012 when he applied to join the Navy in its public affairs track. He is now managing partner at a private equity firm.
Vice president Biden has spoken affectionately about his two sons with first wife Neilla Hunter, praising Hunter and his big brother Beau, 45, for their accomplishments. Hunter accompanied his father on a trip to Asia on behalf of the World Food Program USA. "I'm so incredibly proud of him," the elder Biden said.
The VP, @DrBiden, @HunterBiden and their family raised awareness about global hunger this morning #BelowTheLine pic.twitter.com/dAr0b7p7z2
— Vice President Biden (@VP) April 30, 2014
Hunter's older sibling Beau is the attorney general of Delaware, and a major in the Army National Guard. He was deployed to Iraq in 2008, where he served for one year.