WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Federal prosecutors are finishing up their firearm case against Hunter Biden, with two more witnesses expected on Friday to demonstrate to the jury that the president’s son lied on a required gun purchase form regarding his drug use.
Prosecutors are set to call a drug expert and an FBI chemist as the final witnesses, completing a week focused on illustrating the severity of Hunter’s drug addiction through personal and sometimes scandalous testimony.
Testimonies from his ex-wife and former girlfriend revealed details about his consistent crack cocaine use and their unsuccessful attempts to help him recover. Photos of the president’s son shirtless and unkempt in a squalid room, partially nude holding crack pipes, and videos of his crack cocaine being weighed on a scale were presented to the jurors.
Prosecutors argue that this evidence is crucial in proving that Hunter, 54, was addicted to drugs when he purchased the gun and therefore misled authorities on the form. On the other hand, his attorney, Abbe Lowell, contends that Hunter did not consider himself an “addict” at the time of the gun purchase and did not have the intent to deceive anyone.
President Joe Biden is balancing his roles as both president and father, stating in an interview with ABC that he would respect the jury’s decision and ruling out the possibility of pardoning his son. He also expressed pride in his son’s progress, saying, “Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today.”
While Hunter’s trial progresses, President Biden is in France for D-Day anniversary events. First Lady Jill Biden, who was present in court throughout the week, returned from France to attend the trial before heading back for a state dinner.
Hunter Biden is facing charges of three felonies, including lying on a gun purchase form, making a false claim, and possessing the firearm unlawfully for 11 days.
He has pleaded not guilty and had previously attempted to resolve the gun case and a separate tax case in California through a plea deal last year. However, the proposed agreement fell through after Judge Maryellen Noreika raised concerns about its unusual aspects.
Lowell has indicated that he may call the president’s brother James as a witness, but it remains uncertain whether Hunter Biden will testify.
Jurors have already heard excerpts from Hunter Biden’s memoir “Beautiful Things” in which he opens up about his addiction struggles. Lowell has highlighted the difference in Hunter’s state of mind when he wrote the book compared to when he purchased the gun, emphasizing that Hunter may have acknowledged a drinking problem but not a drug addiction at the time of the purchase.
Hallie Biden, Beau’s widow, discovered the unloaded gun in Hunter’s truck in 2018, prompting her to dispose of it. She testified about the incident and her concerns for Hunter’s well-being.
If convicted, Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison for the charges. He also has a separate trial scheduled in September for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes.
This story’s headline has been corrected to show the prosecution, not the defense, has 2 more witnesses.
Long reported from Washington.
Follow the AP’s coverage of Hunter Biden at https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden.
