Hunter Biden’s criminal trial for federal gun charges is set to begin with jury selection in Delaware. Special counsel David Weiss has brought charges against Hunter Biden, who pleaded not guilty to making false statements in the purchase of a firearm, possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance, and other related charges. If convicted, Hunter Biden could face a maximum prison term of up to 25 years, along with fines and supervised release. The trial comes nearly a year after a plea deal between prosecutors and Hunter Biden fell apart, with Judge Maryellen Noreika questioning the immunity that was being offered.
A source with knowledge of a 2018 police report indicated that Hunter Biden’s then-girlfriend, Hallie Biden, threw a gun owned by him into a dumpster. This incident led to police responding to the scene, and may require Hallie Biden to testify during the trial. The incident involving the gun being thrown into a trash can took place after Hunter Biden had purchased a gun earlier that month and indicated that he was not an unlawful user of any controlled substance. Hunter Biden had been discharged from the Navy in 2014 after testing positive for cocaine, raising questions about his drug use.
Before the trial began, Judge Noreika barred prosecutors from using certain salacious evidence, such as references to Hunter Biden’s Navy discharge and his child support case for his daughter in Arkansas. The judge ruled that the prosecution must demonstrate that Hunter Biden was addicted to drugs but not necessarily using them on the day he purchased the gun. Part of Hunter Biden’s book discussing his addiction will be admissible as evidence during the trial. Additionally, certain portions of the infamous laptop containing details of Hunter Biden’s life will be introduced, and his team will be allowed to question aspects of it in front of the jury.
In addition to the federal gun charges, Hunter Biden also faces pending federal tax charges in California. The tax trial was originally scheduled for June but has been postponed to September for jury selection. The charges include three felonies and six misdemeanors related to more than $1.4 million in unpaid taxes from January 2017 to October 2020. Special counsel David Weiss alleged a “four-year scheme” in which Hunter Biden failed to pay his federal income taxes while filing false reports. Judge Noreika has ruled that the tax trial in California cannot be mentioned during the gun trial in Delaware.
Overall, Hunter Biden’s criminal trial involves multiple legal challenges, including federal gun charges being tried in Delaware and pending federal tax charges in California. The court proceedings are expected to be closely watched, as they involve high-profile allegations against the president’s son. The decisions made by the judge regarding the evidence that can be used and the exclusion of certain information will shape the outcome of the trial. Hunter Biden maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him.
