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

The 12 jury members who for the past week heard vivid and personal details about President Joe Biden's family are set to continue their deliberations this morning in the federal gun trial of his son, Hunter Biden.

In their closing arguments yesterday, prosecutors argued that Hunter Biden lied on a federal gun-purchase form when he said he was not a drug addict, telling jurors "if this evidence did not establish that Hunter Biden was a crack addict and an unlawful user, then no one is a crack addict or an unlawful user."

But defense attorney Abbe Lowell urged the jury to acquit his client, telling them, "We have had Hunter's life in our hands. And now we have to give it to you."

If convicted, Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison -- though legal experts believe he would not serve time due to his being a first-time, nonviolent offender.

Deliberations are scheduled to resume today at 9 a.m. ET.

Hunter Biden, in court today, affirmed his decision not to testify in his own defense, telling the judge "I do" when she asked him if he understood it was his own decision to make, according to the transcript of the proceedings released after court was dismissed for the day.

"Did you make a decision not to testify voluntarily?" Judge Maryellen Noreika asked him, according to the transcript.

"I did," he said.

The questioning from Noreika occurred during a sidebar with Hunter Biden, his attorneys, and prosecutors that was conducted out of earshot of reporters but released as part of the transcript.

"You understand you have the right to testify in your own defense?" the judge asked Hunter Biden, per the transcript.

"I do," he said.

"If you don't testify, you understand your decision not to testify cannot be held against you and I will instruct the jury to that effect?" she asked.

"Agreed," he responded.

"It's your decision and yours alone to make, do you understand that?" the judge asked.

"I do," he responded.

"It's not your attorney's decision, it's not the government's decision, it's not my decision, you understand all that?" she asked.

"I do," he said.

The jurors in Hunter Biden's federal gun trial have been dismissed for the day, after deliberating for one hour with no verdict.

Hunter Biden left the courthouse after the jury was dismissed.

The jurors will be back tomorrow at 9 a.m. ET to resume their deliberations.

The jury has begun deliberations on the three felony counts Hunter Biden faces in his federal gun case.

Prior to the jury getting the case, the government rebutted defense attorney Abbe Lowell's closing argument by asserting again that Hunter Biden was a drug addict when he bought the gun at the center of the case and that he knew it -- beyond a reasonable doubt.

There are "seven ways to Sunday" to show Hunter Biden was an addict and it was "preposterous" that he -- a "Yale-educated lawyer" -- didn't know he was buying a gun while knowingly addicted, prosecutor Derek Hines argued.

Hines rebutted Lowell's characterization of the government's treatment of Hunter Biden's daughter Naomi Biden as "cruel."

Naomi Biden was "completely uncomfortable" because "she couldn't vouch for the defendant's sobriety," Hines argued.

Hines closed by saying that if the jury doesn't determine Hunter Biden is a crack addict based on the evidence in the case, "then no one is a crack addict of unlawful use."

Judge Maryellen Noreika then delivered the final portion of her instructions and sent jurors to begin their deliberations.

The judge indicated that she would not keep jurors past 4:30 or 4:45 p.m. ET today.