WILMINGTON, Delaware, June 3 (Reuters) – The trial of Hunter Biden on federal gun charges commenced Monday with the swearing-in of a jury, marking a historic moment as the son of a sitting president faces criminal prosecution that could impact the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
Hunter Biden, 54, appeared in the Wilmington courthouse four days after former President Donald Trump, a contender in the November 5 election, became the first ex-president to be convicted of a crime. The trial, overseen by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, will scrutinize Biden’s alleged failure to disclose his drug use when purchasing a Colt Cobra .38-caliber revolver and his illegal possession of the firearm in October 2018. Biden has pleaded not guilty to all three felony charges.
The case, spearheaded by U.S. Special Counsel David Weiss, a Trump appointee, is one of two criminal cases against Hunter Biden, the other being federal tax charges in California. The jury of 12, along with four alternates, was instructed by Judge Noreika to focus solely on the facts and refrain from discussing the case outside the courtroom.
The trial is set to delve into Biden’s past struggles with crack cocaine addiction, a topic he has openly discussed, particularly in his 2021 memoir, “Beautiful Things.” Biden claimed sobriety since mid-2019 during a hearing last year.
Republicans have leveraged Hunter Biden’s legal issues to divert attention from Trump’s own legal battles. Trump, who faces sentencing on July 11, has also pleaded not guilty in three other criminal cases. Present at the trial were Jill Biden, Hunter Biden’s wife Melissa Cohen Biden, and his half-sister Ashley Biden. Wilmington, Delaware, holds personal significance as the Biden family’s hometown.
President Joe Biden expressed unwavering support for his son, stating, “Jill and I love our son and are so proud of the man he is today,” emphasizing the commonality of families dealing with addiction.
Despite extensive efforts, Congressional Republicans have been unable to establish a corrupt link between Hunter Biden’s foreign business activities, including his work with Ukrainian energy company Burisma, and his father’s political influence.
Jurors’ Personal Ties to Addiction
Several jurors revealed personal connections to drug addiction, with one noting a friend’s overdose and another, an alternate, recounting an uncle’s incarceration due to drug use. “I feel like it’s an everyday part of the world,” remarked the alternate juror regarding substance abuse.
While most jurors did not express strong political biases, a few had connections to the Biden family. One potential juror, who knew Hunter Biden personally, was dismissed after stating, “Wilmington is a small place.”
A unanimous decision is required to convict Biden. If found guilty on all counts, he could face up to 25 years in prison, though typical sentences are generally shorter, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
Hunter Biden spent the preceding weekend with his father in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, engaging in activities like biking and church attendance.
Focus on the Gun Purchase
Prosecutors aim to demonstrate that Hunter Biden knowingly lied on a federal gun purchase form by denying unlawful drug use. Evidence from Biden’s phone and iCloud account, including photos and communications with drug dealers, may be presented, alongside testimony from his former wife Kathleen Buhle, who accused him of substance abuse during their divorce.
The defense may argue that Biden had completed a drug rehabilitation program before the gun purchase and believed his statement to be truthful. Last year, a plea agreement to resolve the gun and tax charges without prison time fell apart after Judge Noreika questioned its scope, a collapse attributed by Biden’s lawyers to Republican pressures.
Over the weekend, Judge Noreika issued multiple orders favoring the prosecution, including barring expert testimony that could have supported Biden’s claim of unawareness of his addiction, a critical element for proving he knowingly lied on the gun purchase form.
