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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Hunter Biden arrives in court

Hunter Biden entered the Wilmington, Delaware, courthouse as jurors prepared to resume deliberations in his federal gun trial.

He was accompanied, as he has been each day of the trial, by his wife Melissa Cohen Biden.


Jury to resume deliberations

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.


Transcript shows Hunter Biden affirmed decision not to testify

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.


Day 1 of jury deliberations ends with no verdict

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.


Evidence supports 'only one verdict' prosecutor tells jury

Prosecutor Leo Wise used witness testimony and Hunter Biden's own words from his memoir and text messages to argue that the president's son "knew exactly what he was doing" when prosecutors say he falsely claimed he was not addicted to drugs in order to purchase a Colt handgun in 2018.

"Take the defendant's word for it," Wise said as he showed the jury excerpts from Hunter Biden's book that described his drug use and addiction.

Wise, showing the jurors a side-by-side comparison of testimony regarding his truck from his daughter Naomi Biden and then-girlfriend Hallie Biden, said their testimony is "circumstantial evidence " that shows "the defendant used crack in the truck" days after purchasing the firearm.

Naomi Biden testified that she returned the truck to her father "clean" on Oct. 19, 2018, and Hallie Biden testified that a few days later she found Hunter Biden's gun in the vehicle along with drug paraphernalia and drug remnants.

Wise also showed the jury a calendar of the month of October 2018 that showed the cash withdrawals made by Hunter Biden. "None of the cash was for rehab," Wise said.

The evidence, Wise told jurors in conclusion, "supports only one verdict."

Hunter Biden's attorney Abbe Lowell then began his closing arguments.