Jury selection has commenced in the criminal trial of Hunter Biden, a historic prosecution with potential implications for the 2024 presidential election. The trial begins just days after former President Donald Trump was convicted, marking another significant legal event in U.S. politics.
Hunter Biden, 54, arrived at the courthouse to face three felony charges related to his purchase and possession of a revolver in 2018. He is accused of lying about his illegal drug use when purchasing a Colt Cobra .38-caliber revolver and of possessing the weapon illegally for 11 days in October 2018. He has pleaded not guilty.
The case, brought by U.S. Special Counsel David Weiss, a Trump appointee, is one of two criminal cases Hunter Biden faces. He also faces federal tax charges in California. The judge in the gun case, Maryellen Noreika, began screening potential jurors on Monday. Many potential jurors disclosed personal connections to drug addiction, with one juror becoming emotional discussing a brother-in-law’s addiction.
While most jurors had some familiarity with the case, few expressed strong political views. One potential juror mentioned working with First Lady Jill Biden and meeting “Jill’s husband” multiple times. He also supported Ferris Wharton’s campaign against Hunter’s late brother, Beau Biden, for Delaware attorney general.
The trial is attended by Jill Biden, Hunter’s wife Melissa Cohen Biden, and his half-sister Ashley Biden. President Joe Biden expressed pride in his son, emphasizing that many families face challenges related to addiction.
The trial follows the recent conviction of Donald Trump on 34 felony counts in New York, providing Republicans an opportunity to divert attention from Trump’s legal issues. Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on all charges, though shorter sentences are typical.
Hunter Biden’s case centers on his crack cocaine addiction, which he discussed in his 2021 autobiography “Beautiful Things.” Prosecutors aim to prove he knowingly lied on a federal gun purchase form about his drug use. They may present evidence from his phone and iCloud account, including photos and messages with drug dealers, and may call his former wife Kathleen Buhle as a witness.
Hunter Biden’s defense may argue that he believed he had completed a drug rehabilitation program and considered his answer on the form truthful. A previous plea agreement that would have resolved the charges without prison time collapsed last year under scrutiny.
The judge has restricted Hunter Biden’s legal team from introducing expert testimony on substance abuse disorder, which could have supported his claim that he did not knowingly lie. Congressional Republicans have unsuccessfully sought evidence linking Hunter Biden’s business dealings to his father’s political power.
