Hunter Biden is facing a trial for gun charges, set to begin on June 3 after a federal appeals court denied his request to postpone it. This is the first time the child of a sitting president has faced criminal charges. At a status hearing scheduled before the trial, Hunter Biden’s lawyers and prosecutors will discuss the evidence and witnesses for the trial, as well as jury selection and instructions. The hearing is expected to last around 90 minutes, with prosecutors planning to call Hunter Biden’s ex-wife and late brother’s widow to testify. Judge Maryellen Noreika will rule on outstanding motions from both sides, including the government’s request to admit portions of Hunter Biden’s book and messages to drug dealers, as well as exclude claims of vindictive prosecution. Biden’s attorneys, on the other hand, want to exclude references to his pending tax and child support cases, discharge from the Navy, and alleged extravagant lifestyle.
President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, was indicted last September on charges related to possession of a gun while using narcotics, to which he pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege that Biden did not accurately fill out a form indicating he wasn’t using illegal drugs when purchasing a gun in 2018, as well as possessing a firearm while using a narcotic. President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are scheduled to travel to Wilmington as the pre-trial hearing takes place, with the president expected to closely monitor the trial as a concerned parent rather than an incumbent seeking re-election. The president’s advisers will be watching for any references to him during the trial and deciding on responses in real-time. Hunter Biden also faces tax charges in California, with a trial originally set for June 20 now delayed to September 5, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
David Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware and a Trump appointee, led the investigations into Hunter Biden. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Weiss as special counsel in August 2023. The trial of Hunter Biden on gun charges is set to begin in June after a federal appeals court denied his request to postpone it. At a status hearing prior to the trial, Hunter Biden’s lawyers and prosecutors will discuss the evidence, witnesses, jury selection, and motions ahead of trial. The government wants to admit portions of Hunter Biden’s book and messages to drug dealers, while excluding claims of vindictive prosecution. Biden’s attorneys want to exclude references to his pending tax and child support cases, Navy discharge, and extravagant lifestyle.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are scheduled to travel to Wilmington during the pre-trial hearing, with President Biden expected to closely monitor the trial as a concerned parent. The president’s advisers will be watching for references to him during the trial and deciding responses in real-time. Hunter Biden also faces tax charges in California, with a trial originally set for June 20 now delayed to September 5, to which he has pleaded not guilty. David Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware, led the investigations into Hunter Biden and was appointed as special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August 2023. The trial of Hunter Biden on gun charges is expected to be closely followed, given his status as the son of the President of the United States.
