Update: Hunter Biden Trial Heads into Jury Deliberations on 3 Felony Gun Charges

Update on 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time on June 10th, 2024:

Jury deliberations began this afternoon as Hunter Biden did not end up testifying in the trial.

Original Story Below.

President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, is on trial in Delaware, where he is facing three felony gun charges from a revolver he bought in October 2018.

Biden has pleaded not guilty to all three charges. Prosecutors are alleging that Biden purchased the firearm while being addicted to crack cocaine. When he bought the gun, he allegedly lied on the form, which requires purchases to certify that they are not using or addicted to controlled substances. The form is from the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Agency, known as “ATF Form 4473.”

The exact quote on the form says,

“Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?”

Citation

During the trial, prosecutors have used Biden’s personal memoir, text messages, and other statements to show that Biden was addicted to crack cocaine before and after purchasing the gun. He owned the firearm for 11 days before his romantic partner at the time, Hallie Biden, found the firearm and disposed of it in a trash can at a local store, which police later tracked down using surveillance footage and retrieved it.

Prosecutors have also been using Biden’s laptop, which was submitted as evidence during the trial. Biden’s laptop was the subject of controversy leading up to the 2020 election, which then-candidate Biden had called

While the prosecution’s witnesses have been asked to Detail Biden’s drug addiction over the years, including one who testified he was using crack cocaine the month after he bought the gun, Biden’s defense team has argued that Biden believed he was clean when answering the ATF form and did not believe he was in violation of the law.

Biden’s defense has also said that prosecutors failed to prove he used illegal drugs during the time he owned the firearm or when Biden filled out the ATF form.

First Lady Jill Biden has been in attendance, sitting behind her son, other than one day when she was in France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Other members of the Biden family have also been in attendance throughout the trial.

President Biden was interviewed on ABC News earlier this week. He said he would not pardon his son if he were found guilty. President Biden is campaigning for re-election and has called family members more frequently to check on his son.

The prosecution has rested its case, while Biden’s defense team could call one or two more witnesses on Monday before it rests. It is not clear if Biden will take the stand.

Note: Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.