A federal court is awaiting the verdict in the U.S. v. Hunter Biden criminal case related to his 2018 gun purchase. Hunter Biden faces charges including making false statements on a gun form and possessing a gun as an unlawful user of controlled substances. The prosecution has presented evidence that Hunter was a drug addict during the time of the gun purchase, based on testimony from family members and experts. The trial also referenced Hunter’s memoir, which details his struggles with addiction.
Prosecutors argued that the evidence presented in court shows that Hunter was a drug addict and knew he was an addict at the time of the gun purchase. They emphasized text messages and Hunter’s own statements in his book as proof of his drug use. However, Hunter’s defense team refuted these claims, arguing that prosecutors did not provide enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hunter knowingly lied on the gun form. They also pointed out that Hunter had received treatment for his addiction prior to the gun purchase.
The defense highlighted the wording of the gun form question, arguing that it asked in the present tense if Hunter was currently using drugs, not if he had ever been addicted. They also disputed the prosecution’s claim that Hunter was an active addict at the time of the purchase. Hunter’s family, including his stepmother Jill Biden and wife Melissa Cohen Biden, were present in court during the trial. Hunter appeared more upbeat as the trial neared its end.
The jury deliberated on whether Hunter’s actions met the criteria for the charges he faces, which could result in up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The defense emphasized that Hunter did not believe he was an active addict at the time of the purchase, while the prosecution argued that the evidence presented during the trial proved otherwise. Hunter did not testify in the case, and a verdict was expected to be reached as early as the following day. The trial has garnered significant attention due to Hunter Biden’s status as the son of President Joe Biden.
