Prosecutors in Hunter Biden gun trial expected to wrap case today

Prosecutors in the Hunter Biden gun trial are expected to call their last two witnesses on Friday, following testimony a day ago from key witness Hallie Biden, who was romantically involved with Hunter Biden and found and discarded the gun in the center of the case.

Next, Hunter Biden’s lawyers will present their case, which could include putting him on the witness stand.

The prosecution’s final two witnesses Friday morning are expected to be an FBI chemist and a DEA agent.

Hunter Biden’s lawyers said Thursday they have not yet decided whether to call him to the stand. He is charged with three felonies stemming from the alleged purchase of a handgun in October 2018. Two of the charges are related to allegations that he made false statements on a federal gun form about his drug use, certifying that he was not a user or addict. . to any controlled substance during a period in which prosecutors alleged he was addicted to crack cocaine.

The other charge is for allegedly possessing the gun illegally, possessing the gun for 11 days before Hallie Biden found and discarded the gun.

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Hallie Biden, who is also the widow of Beau Biden, Hunter Biden’s late brother, testified Thursday that she “panicked” when she found the gun, saying it was “stupid” but feared one of the children would find it.

She told the court she discovered this when she was cleaning his car, where she often looked for drugs and alcohol. Prosecutors presented parking lot surveillance footage that showed her driving to a supermarket parking lot and throwing the gun into a dumpster, followed by another clip showing her returning to the store to look for the gun.

Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, gave some clues about how the defense might try to counter the prosecution’s case.

While Hunter Biden’s problems with drugs are well known — including in his own memoir, “Beautiful Things” — Lowell sought to raise questions about whether Hunter Biden knowingly omitted information from the disclosure form. In his opening statement, Lowell said that many drug addicts are “in denial” about their drug use.

During jury selection, potential jurors were asked if they had any experience with drug addiction, and many said they had an immediate connection to someone who struggled with drug or alcohol abuse.

Prosecutors on Thursday showed texts between Hunter Biden and Hallie Biden from October 2018 — when he allegedly purchased the gun — where Hunter Biden said he was “buying it,” as well as another in which she said her son was sitting near a “stern”. or crack pipe, at her house.

Hallie Biden also told the court that Hunter Biden introduced her to crack cocaine during the time they were romantically involved.

“It was a terrible experience that I went through and I am ashamed and ashamed, and I regret that period of my life,” she said.

Lowell also questioned Gordon Cleveland, who testified that he sold the firearm to Hunter Biden, about the status of the form at the center of the case and the rules required for any changes made after submission. Cleveland testified that Hunter Biden did not appear confused by the form.

And Lowell sought on Wednesday to cast doubt on the authenticity of text messages allegedly taken from Hunter Biden’s personal devices, which have so far been presented as evidence. Under questioning from Lowell, FBI Special Agent Erika Jensen said Wednesday that she was unable to verify that the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop, admitted into evidence, had not been tampered with before police collected it from a repair shop.

In addition to Hallie Biden, Hunter Biden’s ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, who was married to Hunter for more than 20 years, and his ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan testified about his alleged drug use.

Several members of the Biden family attended his trial, including his half-sister, Ashley Biden, and first lady Jill Biden, before she left to join President Biden in Europe. ABC News’ David Muir asked President Biden in an interview Thursday whether he would rule out pardoning his son if he were convicted. Biden responded: “Yes.”

The president’s son could face up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines if convicted of all charges.