The son of Vice President Joe Biden was discharged from the U.S. Navy reserve earlier this year after testing positive for cocaine, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
The sources, who were not authorized to speak on the record, said Hunter Biden tested positive for cocaine in a drug test administered in June 2013.
Navy spokesman Commander Ryan Perry confirmed that Biden was discharged from the Navy reserve in February 2014 but said privacy laws prevented him from releasing any details.
Perry said Biden was selected for a direct commission in the Navy Reserve as a part-time ensign in 2012 and was assigned to a public affairs unit in Norfolk, Virginia in May 2013.
Biden, 44, a partner at an investment firm, said he regretted the incident.
"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," Biden said in a statement provided by his lawyer. "I respect the Navy's decision. With the love and support of my family, I'm moving forward."
The vice president's office referred all queries to Hunter Biden's attorney.
据路透社10月16日报道，据知情人士10月16日透露，美国副总统乔·拜登（Joe Biden）之子因可卡因药检呈阳性，于今年早些时候被海军预备役部队除名。
这几位知情人士私底下透露称，亨特·拜登（Hunter Biden）在2013年6月执行的可卡因药检中呈阳性。
海军发言人瑞恩·佩里（Ryan Perry）司令证实拜登于2014年2月被开除，但称隐私法不允许其透露任何细节。佩里称，2012年，亨特·拜登作为兼职少尉被选入海军预备役部队指导委员会，并在2013年5月，被分配到弗吉尼亚州的诺福克从事公共事务。
44岁的亨特·拜登是一家投资公司的合伙人，他表示自己对此事感到悔恨。
拜登在由其律师提供的声明中说，“在美国海军服役是我的荣幸，对于自己的行为导致被行政除名的事，我感到悔恨与难堪。我尊重海军的决定。我将带着家人的爱和支持继续前进。”
副总统办公室向亨特·拜登的律师提交了所有询问。
副总统的另一个儿子、特拉华州检察长博·拜登（Beau Biden），作为特拉华州陆军国民警卫队陆军上尉，在伊拉克服役一年。