Hunter Biden gun trial: 'Politics never came into play,' juror says after guilty verdict
The president's son was convicted of unlawfully purchasing a firearm.
President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has been found guilty on three felony counts related to his purchase of a firearm in 2018 while allegedly addicted to drugs.
The younger Biden, who pleaded not guilty last October after being indicted by special counsel David Weiss, denied the charges. The son of a sitting president had never before faced a criminal trial.
The trial came on the heels of former President Donald Trump's conviction on felony charges related to a hush money payment made to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
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Judge reads initial jury instructions
Following the prosecution's rebuttal case, the judge read the jury their initial instructions.
Court is then expected to break for lunch, with closing arguments currently scheduled for the afternoon.
The judge will then give the jury their final instructions before they begin deliberations.
Prosecutors rest rebuttal case
The government rested its rebuttal case after a brief cross-examination of FBI special agent Erika Jensen, who testified about location and text message data relevant to the case.
Attorneys then gathered for another sidebar conference.
FBI witness returns to witness stand
After a lengthy sidebar, overflow room cameras suddenly turned on to show prosecutors questioning a previous witness, FBI agent Erika Jensen, suggesting that the defense has rested its case and prosecutors are introducing a rebuttal case before the trial moves on to closing arguments.
If so, that would indicate that Hunter Biden did not testify in his own defense.
Judge reviews motions regarding jury instructions
This morning's proceedings are underway.
Judge Maryellen Noreika began by reviewing with both parties motions by the defense to change proposed jury instructions.
The jury is expected to be brought back into court at 9 a.m. ET.
Defense presses clerk over wording on form
Cross-examining gun store clerk Gordon Cleveland, defense attorney Abbe Lowell asked about the framing of the various questions on the gun form that Hunter Biden is accused of lying on -- including the difference between "have you" and "are you."
The form, for example, asks the applicant if they "have ever" been convicted -- but asks "are you" an unlawful user of drugs.
The defense team has used this to argue that Hunter Biden could have reasonably believed he was not violating any laws when he checked "No" on the drug-use box, because they say he was not currently using drugs.
"It does not say, 'Have you ever,"' Lowell said.
In court today, Hunter Biden has been attentive and focused, watching as attorneys clashed earlier over evidence. He gripped his pen as prosecutor Leo Wise asked the judge to keep out texts that his team wishes to use when they cross-examination Hallie Biden.
Special counsel David Weiss, who brought the case, has been seated in the front row behind his prosecution team, periodically nodding along as they make their arguments.