Hunter Biden Will Appear In Delaware Federal Court As His Federal Felony Gun Case Will Start Today
Monday, June 3, 2024, 6:00 A.M. ET. By Jennifer Hodges: Englebrook Independent News, NBC News, Politico Contributing,
WILMINGTON, DE.- Hunter Biden is scheduled to begin trial Monday morning in Delaware Federal Court on charges that he failed to disclose his active drug use on a Federal Firearms Form, in order to purchase a handgun back in 2018.
Jury selection will begin later this morning in Federal Court in Wilmington, Delaware. Hunter Biden, 54, the son of President Joe Biden will be the first child of a sitting president to be a criminal defendant in a criminal court trial. With the November 2024, presidential general election just around the corner, the trial which is expected to last three to six weeks will focus on some of the worst moments in the President's son's life.
In September 2023, U.S. Special Counsel David Weiss charged President Biden's son with three federal firearms felony violations. They include Lying to a Federally Licensed Gun Dealer, Making a False Claim on a Federal Firearms Form, and Possession of an Illegally Obtained Firearm.
Although, Hunter Biden is a first-time offender if convicted on the three charges can face a maximum penalty of 25 years in Federal Prison.
In October 2018, Hunter Biden purchased a Colt .38-caliber revolver from StarQuest Shooters & Survival Supply in Wilmington, Delaware. During the purchase, it has been alleged that Biden failed to disclose on the Federal ATF 4473 Purchaser's Form that he was an active user of a controlled Dangerous Substance. The form asks whether the purchaser is an unlawful user or is addicted to controlled substances, narcotics, and other listed substances. Biden, who has admitted to his crack cocaine addiction, said he is been clean since May 2019, stands accused of answering no to that question on the form, despite actively using crack cocaine during the time of the purchase.
The allegations became public when in March 2021, a leaked 2018 Police report published by Politico revealed that Hallie Biden, the widow of Hunter's late brother Beau Biden and at the time Hunter's girlfriend told police she found the handgun Hunter's vehicle before placing it in a bag and throwing it in a trash can outside a local store. After confronting Hunter about the gun she found, Hunter begged her to go back and retrieve the handgun. When she went back, she discovered the gun was no longer in the trash can.
Hallie eventually told a store employee about throwing the gun in the trash can, who then called the police. Hunter, Hallie, and store employees told police officers about a homeless man who periodically rummages through the trash can for aluminum cans and may have taken the gun. About a week later police officer located the man and recovered the revolver.
With the start of today's trial, the case will be overseen by Federal Judge Maryellen Noreika and will focus on Hunter Biden's past drug addiction with potentially embarrassing testimony about the gun purchase.
As reported by NBC News, the case will either distract or distress Joe Biden amid his presidential campaign while fueling Trump's allies, who are eager to distract from Trump's own legal issues.
Jury selection will begin this morning, and 12 jurors will be selected from a potential jury pool of 250 jurors. Special Counsel Weiss is expected to call around 12 witnesses including Hallie Biden, the gunshop employee, and the State Trooper who wrote the original report among others. Biden's defense team led by Abbe Lowell is expected to challenge the 4473 Federal Form if Biden actually checked the no box, in attempts to sow doubt in the case.
Following a verdict in this trial, Hunter Biden faces a trial in California District Federal Court on Federal Tax Charges, which included three felony charges and six misdemeanors for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019. The trial on the tax charges is slated to begin in September 2024. Although the back taxes have been paid, if convicted Hunter could face up to 17 years in Federal Prison.
FILED UNDER: JUNE 3, 2024: NATIONAL, LAW, POLITICS, WASHINGTON: