Wilmington, Delaware – Jurors in Delaware began deliberations in the federal gun trial of Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden. He is facing three felonies related to the purchase of a revolver in October 2018.
Hunter Biden’s defense team chose not to have him testify, resting their case on Monday morning after FBI special agent Erika Jensen reviewed text messages introduced last week. The defense focused on casting doubt on the reliability of location data and identifying gaps in the narrative of Hunter Biden’s actions at the time of the incident.
The decision of whether Hunter Biden would take the stand was deliberated over the weekend, with his attorneys calling several witnesses, including his daughter, Naomi Biden. The prosecution presented its closing argument, followed by the start of the defense’s argument on Monday.
Throughout the trial, members of the Biden family have shown support for Hunter Biden in court. First lady Jill Biden, along with other family members, attended the proceedings, with President Biden not in attendance but in Wilmington on the morning of the trial.
Hunter Biden is facing charges for allegedly making false statements on a federal gun form regarding his drug use and unlawfully possessing the firearm for 11 days before it was found and discarded by his sister-in-law, Hallie Biden.
Key witnesses in the prosecution’s case included Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, ex-girlfriend, sister-in-law, and the man who sold him the gun. Hallie Biden, the prosecution’s star witness, testified about finding the gun and her concerns for the safety of her children.
Central to the case is whether Hunter Biden knowingly lied about his drug use. Prosecutors argue that addiction may not be a choice, but lying and illegally purchasing a firearm are. Hunter Biden’s attorney has emphasized the complex nature of addiction and questioned whether Hunter consciously omitted information on the form.
The trial has shed light on Hunter Biden’s struggles with addiction, which he openly discussed in his memoir. Testimonies from his daughter, Naomi, revealed the impact of his addiction on the family, while highlighting the challenges of identifying addiction in loved ones.
The support of the Biden family has been a consistent presence in the courtroom, with Jill Biden attending almost every day. The emotional toll of the trial was evident as Ashley Biden, Hunter’s half-sister, became overwhelmed and left the courtroom on one occasion.