HUNTER Biden has been accused of telling his brother’s widow he was waiting for a drug dealer just days after lying on a gun form, a court has heard.
The president‘s son, 54, faces three firearm-related charges for allegedly owning a gun while being an active drug user in 2018.
GettyHunter Biden arriving in court in Wilmington, Delaware on Tuesday[/caption]
APThe US president’s son has pleaded not guilty to all three charges against him[/caption]
ReutersThe 54-year-old was accompanied by his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, pictured right[/caption]
As jury selection began in Delaware on Monday, young Biden became the first child of a US president to face a criminal trial.
He has been accused of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application by saying he was not a drug user and illegally having the gun for 11 days.
Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecutors told the jury in their opening statement that Biden was trying to score drugs just days after he lied on the form, telling his brother’s widow in a message that he was waiting for a drug dealer.
They also played for jurors an audio excerpt of his 2021 memoir Beautiful Things in which he talked about going back to Delaware around the time of the gun purchase.
Federal prosecutor Derek Hines said during the bombshell trial: “No one is allowed to lie on a federal form like that, even Hunter Biden.
“He crossed the line when he chose to buy a gun and lied about a federal background check … the defendant’s choice to buy a gun is why we are here.
“When the defendant filled out that form, he knew he was a drug addict, and prosecutors don’t have to prove he was using that day.
“Addiction is depressing, but Hunter Biden’s addiction isn’t the reason for the case.”
Hines added: “It was illegal because he was user of crack and a drug addict. No one is above the law.”
First lady Jill Biden and her senior advisor Anthony Bernal arrive in court on TuesdayGetty Images – Getty
President Biden shared a statement ahead of his son’s trial at the federal courthouse in the Bidens’ hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.
As president, Joe Biden stated that he would not discuss the criminal prosecution, but that as a parent, he has “boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength”.
“I am the president, but I am also a dad,” declared the US leader.
“Our son is loved by Jill and myself, and we are really proud of the guy he has become.
Meanwhile, Hunter Biden still has options to fight his federal gun charge, a legal expert has said.
FIGHTING ON
Will Trachman, general counsel for Mountain States Legal Foundation, told The U.S. Sun that the possible avenues for the president’s son are:
Say he wasn’t an addict claiming the definition of an addict is “ambiguous”
Say he didn’t sign the firearms form confirming he could legally buy the gun
Say the law is unconstitutional
However, the legal expert stresses it’s a tall hill to climb.
“It’s much more believable to credit every evidence that Hunter Biden was himself creating than an assertion that’s only being made as part of the purpose of a criminal defense.
“So I do think those therapist notes and then everything else are going to be high and prohibitive of the fact that Hunter was indeed an addict.”
Tracher added that the Hunter Biden trial is “unprecedented.”
“We’ve ever had a situation like this, and it took many, many years to get to this point,” he said.
“The charges relate to conduct from several years ago when Hunter Biden was struggling with all these addiction issues, so it wasn’t a short road to get here.”
When asked if the trial could lead to an easy conviction, Trachman said it is currently “hard to tell.”
“This a jury of his peers in Delaware. The name Biden goes a long way in Delaware, and so the jurors who are selected may be willing to cut him a lot of slack.”
He [Hunter Biden] crossed the line when he chose to buy a gun and lied about a federal background check
Derek Hines
However, he noted that it seems that the evidence presented thus far is “about as good as any other criminal case.”
“It seems like they have him locked in on these text messages, the book, the other witnesses who heard him express that he was an addict. And so it does seem like all of the evidence points in one direction.”
STRUGGLES AND SCANDALS
Last summer, Hunter Biden appeared to have reached a plea agreement with prosecutors to resolve tax and weapons allegations against him and avoid prison time, the BBC reports.
But the bargain fell apart in court, and the prosecutor overseeing the federal investigation into Hunter’s suspected crimes ultimately prosecuted him on firearms charges.
In December, a second indictment charged young Biden with failing to pay at least $1.4 million (£1.1 million) in federal taxes owed for tax years 2016-19.
Congressional Republicans have held impeachment hearings against President Biden to investigate alleged influence peddling by his son. Both Bidens have denied wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, the 54-year-old’s personal troubles, ranging from alcohol and drug abuse to relationship strife, have become widely known.
What is Hunter Biden accused of?
HUNTER Biden has been charged with three felonies stemming from the purchase when he was, according to his memoir, addicted to crack.
He has been accused of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application by saying he was not a drug user and illegally having the gun for 11 days.
Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
Will Trachman, general counsel for Mountain States Legal Foundation, says it’s hard to tell if Biden could be convicted.
The trial takes place in Delaware, where the Biden name “goes a long way,” said Trachman.
Because of this, he believes a lot of the jurors may be willing to cut him some slack, however, due to the evidence presented in the case thus far the trial could go either way.
Judge Maryellen Noreika is known to be fair-minded, said Trachman so if Biden is convicted, given his age and status as a first-time offender, Trachman believes he would receive a light sentence.
However, due to the seriousness of the alleged crimes, Trachman also believes that Biden could serve jail time.
