Prospective Jurors in Hunter Biden’s Gun Case Questioned on Gun Rights, Addiction, and Politics
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — On Monday, potential jurors in the federal gun case against Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, were questioned about their views on gun rights and drug addiction, with First Lady Jill Biden in attendance to support her son.
During a lunch break on the first day of jury selection, Hunter Biden embraced his mother, leaning over the courtroom railing to hug and kiss her on her 73rd birthday.
Hunter Biden, who spent the weekend with his parents, faces three felony charges in Delaware from a 2018 firearm purchase while, as he recounted in his memoir, he was struggling with a crack addiction. He is accused of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, falsely claiming he was not a drug user on the application, and illegally possessing the gun for 11 days.
The judge aimed to seat 16 jurors, including four alternates, and the process was progressing swiftly. By midafternoon, about two dozen potential jurors had been dismissed. One dismissed juror expressed doubts about her impartiality due to pre-formed opinions from media reports.
The trial follows the collapse of a plea deal that would have avoided a trial near the 2024 election. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty, asserting he is being unfairly targeted by the Justice Department, with Republicans criticizing the abandoned plea deal as preferential treatment for the president’s son.
This trial is occurring shortly after former President Donald Trump, the likely 2024 Republican nominee, was convicted of 34 felonies in New York City related to a hush money scheme. Although unrelated, the proximity of these cases highlights the prominence of criminal proceedings during the 2024 campaign.
In Delaware, Judge Maryellen Noreika individually questioned jurors who answered “yes” on a questionnaire to determine their fairness and impartiality. Their names were not disclosed.
The questions gauged their knowledge of the case, views on gun ownership, and experiences with substance abuse or addiction. Other questions addressed the influence of politics on the charges.
One juror was dismissed due to a family history in law enforcement, impacting his impartiality. Another was excused for his strong awareness of the case and belief in political influence on legal charges.
Only one juror answered “no” to all questions and advanced to the next phase. Another potential juror, a gun owner with a concealed carry permit, expressed strong support for gun rights and the Second Amendment.
Attorneys dismissed a woman with strong anti-gun views who advocated for stricter gun laws and expressed her political activism.
Hunter Biden also faces a separate trial in California in September for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. Both cases were initially set to be resolved through a plea deal last July. However, Judge Noreika raised concerns about unusual aspects of the deal, including a proposed guilty plea for tax misdemeanors and a diversion agreement for the gun charge. The deal fell apart, leading to the appointment of a special counsel and Hunter Biden's subsequent indictment.
This trial focuses on Hunter Biden’s firearm charges, unrelated to his foreign business dealings, which Republicans have highlighted without evidence to suggest Biden family corruption. The trial will expose some of Hunter Biden’s most challenging moments.
The president’s allies worry about the emotional toll on him as he watches his son's past scrutinized publicly, potentially distracting from his campaign amidst low poll numbers and an upcoming presidential debate.
In a statement, President Biden expressed “boundless love” and confidence in his son, emphasizing his dual role as President and father. He stated he would not comment further on the case and expressed pride in Hunter.
While President Biden remained at their Wilmington home before a campaign event in Connecticut, the first lady planned to join him later in France. Hunter Biden’s sister, Ashley, and his wife, Melissa, were also present in court. Family friend Ricky Smith supported Hunter, criticizing the situation as unfair due to his past addiction.
The charges against Hunter Biden relate to his admitted addiction to crack following the death of his brother, Beau Biden, in 2015. He bought and owned a gun for 11 days in October 2018, falsely indicating on the purchase form that he was not using drugs.
Defense attorneys might argue that Hunter Biden didn’t perceive himself as an addict when he checked “no” on the form, and they plan to challenge the credibility of the gun store owner.
If convicted, Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison, although first-time offenders rarely receive the maximum sentence, and it’s uncertain if he would serve time behind bars.
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