Jury deliberations have commenced in the trial of Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, who faces charges of making false statements about his drug use during a 2018 firearm purchase. The 12-member jury deliberated for about an hour on Monday after closing arguments and will reconvene at 9 a.m. ET (13:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
The case revolves around allegations that Hunter Biden, now 54, lied on a government form when he purchased a Colt Cobra revolver, failing to disclose his illegal drug use. Prosecutors argue that his omission violated federal law.
Government prosecutor Derek Hines emphasized the importance of the law applying equally to all individuals, regardless of their status. “When he chose to lie and buy a gun, he violated the law. We ask, you return the only verdict supported by the evidence – guilty,” Hines told the jury.
Defense attorney Abbe Lowell countered by suggesting the prosecution’s case relied heavily on drug use from different periods, not directly connected to the time of the gun purchase. Lowell likened the prosecution’s approach to a magician’s trick, saying it created an illusion by blurring the timeline of Hunter Biden’s drug use.
US District Judge Maryellen Noreika instructed jurors to focus solely on the evidence presented. “You have to decide the case based on the evidence,” she directed.
The trial, held at the US District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, included four days of testimony detailing Hunter Biden’s struggles with alcohol and crack cocaine addiction. Prosecutors used this testimony to argue that his addiction legally disqualified him from buying a firearm.
In his closing remarks, federal prosecutor Leo Wise described the testimony about Hunter Biden’s drug use as both “personal and ugly,” asserting that it was essential for the jury to understand his condition at the time of the gun purchase.
The trial marks a significant legal moment, coinciding with the recent criminal conviction of former President Donald Trump, the first for a sitting or former US president. Trump’s conviction on May 30 underscores the unique nature of Hunter Biden’s trial, which involves the first criminal trial of a child of a sitting president.
Congressional Democrats have highlighted Hunter Biden’s prosecution as evidence that President Joe Biden is not using the justice system for personal or political gain.
Wise, without directly referencing First Lady Jill Biden’s attendance, suggested that the high-profile nature of the case should not influence the jury’s decision. “None of that matters. What matters came from the witness stand,” he asserted.
If convicted, Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison. However, first-time offenders often receive sentences far below the maximum, leaving his potential sentencing uncertain.
Jury deliberations will continue as the case progresses, with a decision expected to hinge on the evidence and arguments presented during the trial.
