Verdict reached in Hunter Biden gun trial

washington — The jury reached a verdict in Hunter Biden Federal Gun Trial on Tuesday morning, on its second day of deliberation in a trial that lasted just over a week.

The court heard difficult testimony about his struggles with drugs from several women in Hunter Biden’s life. The prosecution called his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan and Hallie Biden, widow of his brother Beau Biden, with whom Hunter Biden was romantically involved while he owned the firearm. It was Hallie Biden who discovered the gun in his truck. She testified that Hunter Biden was using drugs in October 2018, when he purchased the gun, and prosecutors showed texts that said he was “sleeping in the car, smoking crack.”

Naomi Biden, called by the defense, testified that her father “seemed great” in late October 2018 and she did not see any drug paraphernalia when she borrowed his truck. But she also said she knew her father “was struggling with addiction,” telling the court that “after my uncle (Beau Biden) died, things got worse.” She said Hunter Biden never used illegal drugs in front of her.

What is Hunter Biden accused of?

He was indicted on three felony weapons charges in September, following a proposed plea deal with federal prosecutors unraveled.

He is accused of illegally purchasing and possessing a gun while addicted to crack cocaine. Federal law prohibits illegal drug users from owning firearms.

Prosecutors allege the president’s son lied about his drug use on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives form when he purchased a handgun, speed loader and ammunition on October 12, 2018, at StarQuest Shooters and Survival Supply, a gun store in Wilmington.

Hunter Biden owned the Colt Cobra .38 handgun for 11 days before Hallie Biden found it in the console of his truck and threw it in a trash can in front of a supermarket.

Afterwards, she testified that she was going to “pretend” it wasn’t her, but Hunter Biden texted her about the missing gun.

“You are crazy,” he allegedly texted her on Oct. 23, 2018, according to text messages read aloud during the trial. “Tell me now. This isn’t a game. And you’re being completely irresponsible and unbalanced.”

“It’s hard to believe someone is so stupid,” he reportedly wrote in another message.

Hallie Biden went back to the trash can to retrieve the gun, but it was gone. An elderly man looking for recyclables found the gun and took it home. Delaware police later recovered the man’s gun.

Years later, prosecutors charged Hunter Biden with gun crimes while chasing unrelated tax charges against him.

What is Hunter Biden accused of?

Two of the three charges relate to paperwork Hunter Biden filled out when he purchased the gun. The form includes questions about a person’s criminal record, whether they are purchasing the gun for themselves or someone else, their drug use and mental health. He is accused of making a false statement on the application, saying he was not a drug user and lying to a licensed gun dealer.

The third charge concerns possession of the weapon. Prosecutors say he knowingly possessed the gun for 11 days while battling an addiction to illegal drugs, a violation of federal law.

Defense of Hunter Biden

His lawyers argued that prosecutors should prove he was using drugs the day he bought the gun. The form uses the word “are,” defense attorney Abbe Lowell said in opening statements.

“It doesn’t say if you’ve ever used it. It doesn’t say if you’ve ever used it,” Lowell said. The defense also argued that Hunter Biden was abusing alcohol, not drugs, at that time.

All three charges are felonies, and if convicted of all charges, he could face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000.

Scott MacFarlane contributed reporting.