At A jury has been seated in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trialand opening statements are set to take place Tuesday in a federal courtroom in Wilmington, Delaware.
Later, the prosecution’s first witness, FBI Special Agent Erika Jensen, is expected to testify. In a summary of the trial, prosecutors outlined the evidence Jensen’s testimony would include, including Hunter Biden’s text messages — some of which showed images of controlled substances — and excerpts from his memoir, “Beautiful Things.”
US District Judge Maryellen Noreika said on Friday that the court will try to accommodate a motion by the news media to take the admitted exhibits as evidence.
In addition to Jensen, prosecutors will call Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle; Hunter Biden’s wife was romantically involved from 2017-2018; Beau Biden’s cousin’s widow, Hallie Bidenwith whom he was romantically involved, and five other witnesses, including FBI and DEA agents.
The president’s son was indicted by a federal grand jury in September after agreeing to a diversion for felony gun violations and deal request related to misdemeanor tax charges unraveled when Judge Noreika questioned whether the agreement would allow Hunter Biden to avoid potential future charges.
He now faces three felony charges for allegedly illegally purchasing and possessing a firearm in 2018 while he was a drug user. He has pleaded not guilty.
Jury selection
Twelve jurors and four alternates were sworn in Monday, 10 women and six men, on the first day of the trial. Noreika then proceeded to instruct the panel.
During the jury selection process, all but one of the potential jurors knew about the case because of news reports, and many said they had direct relationships with people struggling with drug or alcohol abuse.
At 11:45 am, twelve potential jurors out of 30 were excused due to, among other things, scheduling conflicts and political views. One person asserted gun ownership was a “God-given right,” while another said Biden’s views were “bad.”
The defense attacked another potential juror — who he said was a Fox News viewer — a former Wilmington police officer who later worked with Jill Biden at the college where she taught. He also said he has met with President Biden at several events and has donated to challenger Beau Biden in the race for Delaware attorney general. Potential jurors also told the judge that he believed the prosecutor filed the case for political reasons, say criminal case against former President Donald Trump in New York and, when asked whether “political prosecutions” ever target Democrats, which was an emphatic “no” response.
Another potential juror also answered “yes” when the judge asked “are some of the Department of Justice and law enforcement politically motivated?” Some cite Trump’s New York case.
Before the trial began, Hunter Biden suffered several setbacks: Norieka refused to allow his attorney to admit into evidence the second version of the firearms purchase form he filled out to buy the gun, and he granted the government’s motion to exclude one of the defense’s expert witnesses, Dr. Elie Aoun, who is going to testify about the nature of Hunter Biden’s drug abuse and whether he knows himself to be addicted.
What are the federal gun charges against Hunter Biden?
In a three-count indictment, the president’s son is accused of making false statements on federal drug use forms, certifying that he was not a user or addict of a controlled substance during the time prosecutors said he was addicted to crack. cocaine. Hunter Biden bought a Colt Cobra .38 Special revolver, and kept it for 11 days before it was thrown in an outdoor container by Hallie Biden, his romantic partner at the time.
Hunter Biden’s attorney denied the charges and said they were “unconstitutional” and “unprecedented,” as well as a violation of the extradition agreement that remains legal and valid.
Prosecutors are expected to introduce detailed evidence against Hunter Biden use of a controlled substance leading up to and during the time he purchased the firearm.
Attorney Hunter Biden wants to call his own expert witnesses on addiction and forensic psychiatry and forensic toxicology.
The president’s son faces up to 25 years in prison and a $750,000 fine if convicted on all charges.
Separately, he faces nine federal tax charges in the central district of California in a second indictment brought by Weiss’ office in which federal prosecutors allege Hunter Biden participated in a “four-year scheme” to avoid paying at least $1.4 million in federal taxes. References to tax charges are not admissible in gun trials in Delaware. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Robert Legare contributed to this report.
