Washington — The jury reached a verdict in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial on Tuesday morning, on its second day of deliberation in a trial that lasted simply over per week.
The court docket heard troublesome testimony about his wrestle with medicine from a number of of the ladies in Hunter Biden’s life. The prosecution known as his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan and Hallie Biden, the widow of his brother Beau Biden, with whom Hunter Biden was romantically concerned throughout the time period that he owned the firearm. It was Hallie Biden who found the gun in his truck. She testified that Hunter Biden was utilizing medicine in October 2018 when he purchased the gun, and prosecutors confirmed texts that stated he was “sleeping on automotive smoking crack.”
Naomi Biden, known as by the protection, testified that her father “appeared nice” on the finish of October 2018 and he or she didn’t spot any drug paraphernalia when she borrowed his truck. But she additionally stated she knew her father “was fighting habit,” telling the court docket that “after my Uncle (Beau Biden) died, issues bought unhealthy.” She stated Hunter Biden by no means used unlawful medicine in entrance of her.
What is Hunter Biden accused of?
He was indicted on three felony gun prices in September after a proposed plea cope with federal prosecutors unraveled.
He is accused of illegally buying and possessing a gun whereas he was hooked on crack cocaine. Federal legislation prohibits customers of unlawful medicine from proudly owning firearms.
Prosecutors allege the president’s son lied about his drug use on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives kind when he purchased a revolver, velocity loader and ammunition on Oct. 12, 2018, from StarQuest Shooters and Survival Supply, a gun retailer in Wilmington.
Hunter Biden owned the Colt Cobra .38 handgun for 11 days earlier than Hallie Biden discovered it within the console of his truck and discarded it in a trash can outdoors a grocery retailer.
Afterward, she testified that she was going to “faux” that she did not do it, however Hunter Biden texted her in regards to the lacking gun.
“Are you insane,” he allegedly texted her on Oct. 23, 2018, in line with textual content messages learn aloud throughout the trial. “Tell me now. This is not any recreation. And you are being completely irresponsible and unhinged.”
“It’s arduous to consider anybody is that silly,” he allegedly wrote in one other message.
Hallie Biden went again to the trash can to retrieve the gun, but it surely was gone. An aged man in search of recyclables discovered the gun and took it dwelling. Delaware police later recovered the gun from the person.
Years later, prosecutors charged Hunter Biden with gun crimes as they pursued unrelated tax prices in opposition to him.
What is Hunter Biden charged with?
Two of the three counts are associated to paperwork Hunter Biden crammed out when he bought the gun. The kind contains questions on an individual’s legal document, whether or not they’re shopping for the gun for themselves or another person, their drug use and psychological well being. He’s charged with making a false assertion on the applying by saying he was not a drug consumer and mendacity to a licensed gun vendor.
The third depend pertains to his possession of the gun. Prosecutors say he knowingly possessed the gun for 11 days as he was battling an habit to unlawful medicine, a violation of federal legislation.
Hunter Biden’s protection
His attorneys argued that prosecutors should show that he was utilizing medicine the day he purchased the gun. The kind makes use of the phrase “are,” protection lawyer Abbe Lowell stated in opening statements.
“It doesn’t say have you ever ever been. It doesn’t say have you ever ever used,” Lowell stated. The protection additionally argued that Hunter Biden was abusing alcohol, not medicine, throughout that point.
All three counts are felonies, and if convicted of all counts, he might face a most sentence of 25 years in jail and fines of as much as $750,000.
Scott MacFarlane contributed reporting.
