President Biden's son, Hunter Biden, is set to go on trial this week on federal gun charges for allegedly lying about his illegal drug use when purchasing a Colt revolver in the fall of 2018.
The trial begins Monday in federal court in Delaware with jury selection. This is the first of two cases brought against him by Justice Department special counsel David Weiss. The second case, concerning tax charges, is scheduled for trial in September in California.
Hunter Biden faces three counts in the gun case: two for making false statements by allegedly lying about his drug use when buying a firearm, and one for unlawful possession of a gun by a drug user or addict. He has pleaded not guilty.
This trial is the latest courtroom event with potential political implications for the 2024 presidential race. Although Hunter Biden is not running for office, Republicans have long aimed to use his legal troubles and foreign business dealings to politically damage his father. The trial presents a new opportunity to do so.
This development follows closely on the heels of former President Donald Trump, President Biden’s opponent in the 2024 election, being found guilty by a New York jury of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made to an adult film star.
In a statement on Monday, President Biden emphasized his role as a father, saying, "Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. Hunter’s resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery are inspiring to us."
The gun case harks back to a challenging period in Hunter Biden’s life, marked by the death of his brother, Beau, and his struggle with addiction to crack cocaine and alcohol. The trial is expected to delve into personal episodes that deeply affected Hunter Biden and his family.
The charges center on a Colt Cobra revolver Hunter Biden bought at a Wilmington gun store in October 2018. Prosecutors claim Biden lied on a background check form by stating he was not using or addicted to illegal drugs.
Around a dozen witnesses are expected to be called by prosecutors, including Biden’s ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, and his brother’s widow, Hallie Biden, who was romantically involved with Hunter Biden after Beau’s death. Hallie Biden found the gun and discarded it in a dumpster outside a Wilmington market less than two weeks after Hunter bought it. A man collecting recyclables later found the gun and alerted law enforcement.
Prosecutors plan to use excerpts from Hunter Biden’s memoir, where he discusses his addiction to crack cocaine, along with text messages in which he talks about his drug use.
Initially, it seemed Hunter Biden might avoid trial altogether. He had a tentative deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to tax charges and enter a diversion agreement for the gun offenses, allowing him to avoid trial. However, the deal collapsed at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who raised concerns about its structure. Subsequent efforts to salvage the deal failed.
Following this, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Weiss as special counsel, leading to the two prosecutions against Hunter Biden.
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, has sought to have the case dismissed on various grounds, but the judge has denied these motions. Lowell argues that the gun charges are rarely pursued under similar circumstances and accuses Weiss of yielding to Republican pressure in bringing the cases.
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