Hunter Biden, the president’s son, goes on trial this week in Delaware on federal gun charges.
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President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, goes on trial this week on federal gun charges for allegedly lying about his illegal drug use when he purchased a Colt revolver in the fall of 2018.
The trial, the first of two cases brought against the president’s son by Justice Department special counsel David Weiss, began Monday in federal court in Delaware. The second indictment involves tax charges and is scheduled to go to trial in California in September.
Hunter Biden faces three counts in the gun case: two counts of false representation for allegedly lying about his drug use when purchasing a gun; and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a drug addict or addict. He pleads not guilty.
The trial is the latest courtroom drama this election year, with potential political implications for the 2024 presidential race.
Although Hunter Biden is not running for office, Republicans have long sought to use his legal troubles and foreign business dealings to try to damage his father politically. This trial provides a new opportunity.
Just days ago, his father’s opponent in the 2024 election, former President Donald Trump, was convicted by a New York jury of falsifying business records about hush-money payments to adult film stars.
President Biden said in a statement on Monday that while he is president, he “is also a father.”
“Jill and I love our son and we are very proud of how he performed today. Hunter’s resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he brings to recovery is inspiring to us,” he said.
The shooting stemmed from a difficult period in Hunter Biden’s life, when he fell into trouble after the death of his brother, Beau, and became addicted to crack cocaine and alcohol. The trial is expected to reveal deeply personal stories about Hunter Biden and take a toll on the Biden family.
The case centers on a Colt Cobra revolver that Hunter Biden purchased at a Wilmington gun store in October 2018. Lie on the record and claim that you do not use or be addicted to illegal drugs.
Prosecutors have said they plan to call about a dozen witnesses, including Biden’s ex-wife Katherine Buhler and his brother’s widow Halle Biden, who had a romantic relationship with Hunter Biden after Beau’s death.
Less than two weeks after Hunter purchased the weapon, Halle Biden discovered the gun and threw it in a dumpster outside a Wilmington market. Later, a man collecting recyclables discovered the gun and notified law enforcement.
Prosecutors also plan to use excerpts from Hunter Biden’s memoir in which he discussed his addiction to cocaine. Prosecutors also plan to produce Biden’s own text messages in which he discussed his drug use.
Less than a year ago, it appeared Hunter Biden would avoid a trial altogether.
He reached a tentative deal with prosecutors under which he would plead guilty to tax charges and enter into a diversion agreement on gun crimes that would allow him to avoid a trial.
But the deal fell apart during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who expressed concerns about the structure of the deal. Biden’s legal team and prosecutors are beyond repair.
Weeks later, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Weiss as special counsel, who subsequently filed two indictments against Biden.
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbey Lowell, tried to dismiss the case on various grounds, but the judge denied them all.
He said the gun charges his client faces are rarely brought in similar circumstances. He also accused Weiss of bowing to Republican pressure to pursue both cases against Hunter Biden.
