The judge in Hunter Biden’s gun case issued various pretrial rulings recently, which set the tone for the upcoming trial. Federal Judge Maryellen Noreika decided that prosecutors must prove that Biden was generally using drugs at the time he purchased the gun in 2018, rather than specifically using drugs on the day of the purchase. Biden has argued for a narrower interpretation of the law. In addition, the judge allowed Biden’s lawyers to challenge the authenticity of specific texts from his laptop, which will be presented as evidence. Prosecutors plan to introduce only a small portion of the laptop material at the trial.
The trial is set to begin on June 3, with Biden facing three charges related to buying and possessing a firearm while addicted to illegal drugs and lying on a form about his drug use. The trial is expected to last up to two weeks, with jury selection and potential delays. Biden recently postponed a separate tax-evasion trial scheduled for late June to September. The parties involved also disputed the forms Biden filled out when purchasing the gun, as he allegedly made a false statement regarding drug use. Credibility issues with the forms and the gun store staff have emerged, with allegations of tampering with the forms.
There are ongoing discussions about what evidence will be admissible during the trial, with the judge ruling on various motions regarding what a jury can hear. Both the prosecution and defense agreed that certain information, such as claims regarding the violations of the Second Amendment and details about past legal matters involving Biden, should be excluded. The judge also limited what references prosecutors could make to Biden’s spending habits at the time of the gun purchase. Although the judge sided with Biden on excluding references to tax charges, she noted that the decision might change if Biden decides to testify in the trial.
The judge did not make final decisions on certain matters during the recent hearing, including the two versions of the form related to Biden’s gun purchase and potential testimony from the gun store staff. Biden’s attorney argued that the staff had added information to the form after the purchase, casting doubt on its accuracy. Prosecutors requested the exclusion of the altered form from the trial altogether. The judge’s decisions will be crucial in shaping the upcoming trial, especially if Biden decides to take the stand. Noreika warned that several issues might become more contested if Biden chooses to testify in his defense. The story continues to develop as more details emerge.
