Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial to begin today

Jury selection in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial begins Monday in Delaware as he faces three felony charges stemming from his alleged illegal purchase and possession of a firearm in 2018 while a drug user.

Biden was indicted by a federal grand jury in September following a firearm diversion deal and a felony judicial agreement related misdemeanor tax charges were unraveled when U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika questioned whether the deal would allow him to avoid possible future charges.

Hunter Biden’s lawyers condemned the charges and argued that they were “unconstitutional” and “unprecedented” as well as violating the diversion agreement which they said was still legally binding and valid.

A flurry of motions to dismiss filed by Biden’s lawyers were denied by Judge Noreika, and a federal appeals court rejected his request to dismiss the gun charges in May.

In the three-count indictment, the president’s son is accused of making false statements on a federal form about his drug use, certifying that he was not a user of or addicted to any controlled substance during a period in which prosecutors allege he was addicted to crack. cocaine. Biden purchased a Colt Cobra .38 Special revolver, which remained in his possession for 11 days before being discarded in an outside container by Hallie Biden, Hunter Biden’s romantic partner at the time.

Prosecutors are expected to present evidence detailing Biden’s use of controlled substances before and during the period he purchased the firearm. In the trial summary, they reference Biden’s own admission of drug addiction in excerpts from his memoirs, Beautiful thingsas well as photos and videos from your laptop and text messages.

Prosecutors also intend to include testimony from Hunter Biden’s former romantic partners recounting his substance abuse, including his ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle and Hallie Biden, the widow of his late brother, Beau Biden, and expert testimony from FBI agents and the DEA.

Hunter Biden’s lawyers are seeking to call their own witnesses who are experts in addiction, forensic psychiatry and forensic toxicology.

The charges were brought by special counsel David Weiss, who was appointed U.S. attorney for Delaware by former President Donald Trump and appointed special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2023. The federal investigations into Hunter Biden, led by Weiss, lasted five years throughout both the Trump and Biden administrations.

Hunter Biden’s lawyers asserted that Weiss “caved to political pressure to bring harsher charges” after the plea agreement drew a “stern rebuke” from former President Trump and his Republican allies when it was first made public. Weiss’ office rejected claims that the accusations were fueled by politics and were made to appease Republicans.

“The charges in this case are not trumped up or because of former President Trump – they are, instead, the result of the defendant’s own choices and were made despite, not because of, any outside noise made by politicians,” prosecutors said.

Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines if convicted of all charges.

Separately, he faces nine federal tax charges in the Central District of California, in a second indictment filed by Weiss’ office, where federal prosecutors allege that President Biden’s son engaged in a “four-year scheme” to avoid paying at least 1.4 million dollars in federal taxes.

Hunter Biden is charged with three felonies and six misdemeanors related to his alleged failure to file and pay taxes, assessment evasion and filing a false or fraudulent tax return. Biden has pleaded not guilty to these charges.

Their motions to dismiss the federal tax charges were all denied by U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi in April. If convicted, Hunter Biden could face up to 17 years in prison.

References to the tax charges or questions related to those charges or the plea hearing are not admissible in your federal gun trial in Delaware.