Hunter Biden trial: 'Politics never came into play,' juror says after guilty verdict

Court resumed this morning with a sidebar conference.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys were arguing before the judge about an exhibit the defense wants to introduce when Hallie Biden, Hunter Biden's former romantic partner, takes the stand as expected later today.

Separately, defense attorney Abbe Lowell signaled his intention to file a motion to have the case thrown out after the government rests.

The long-shot bid will be filed on grounds of constitutional shortcomings and insufficient evidence, Lowell said.

Lowell also said his witnesses -- which could include President Joe Biden's brother James Biden and Hunter Biden's daughter Naomi Biden -- may not be available until Friday morning.

Hunter Biden has arrived at the Wilmington courthouse for today's proceedings.

Like previous days, he was accompanied by his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden.

The gun store clerk who sold Hunter Biden the handgun at the center of the government's case returns to the witness stand this morning on Day 4 of the trial as prosecutors look to wrap up their case against the president's son.

Prosecutors said at the end of Wednesday's proceedings that they plan to call six more witnesses -- including Hallie Biden, perhaps their most crucial witness -- before resting their case, which could happen as soon as this afternoon.

Defense counsel have leaned into their claim that Hunter Biden was not actively abusing drugs in October of 2018, the month of his gun purchase, and therefore did not knowingly lie on the federal firearm application form.

Zoe Kestan, one of Hunter Biden's ex-girlfriends, testified Wednesday that she witnessed him smoking crack the month before and the month after his gun purchase, but had "no idea" what he was doing in October.

To fill that gap, prosecutors plan to call Hallie Biden, his brother's widow with whom Hunter Biden was romantically involved.

"The evidence will show that during those 11 days, the defendant continued to use drugs and to talk about his drug use with Hallie," prosecutor Derek Hines said.

Under cross-examination by defense attorney Abbe Lowell, gun store clerk Gordon Cleveland testified about the sequence of events on Oct. 12, 2018, when he sold Hunter Biden the handgun at the center of the case -- with Cleveland and Lowell at times squabbling over details as granular as the direction of Hunter Biden's vehicle when he drove into the store's parking lot.

Cleveland will return to the stand Thursday morning when proceedings continue.

Prosecutor Derek Hines told the judge before court concluded for the day that he anticipated resting his case as soon as the end of the day on Thursday. The government has six brief witnesses remaining, he said.

Lowell said that if the government rests its case by the end of the day Thursday, he would be prepared to call his first witness on Friday morning.