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 at courthouse

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

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


Hallie Biden expected to testify as government looks to rest case

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.


Prosecution could rest its case as early as Thursday

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.


Clerk says Hunter Biden showed no confusion over drug question

Gun store clerk Gordon Cleveland testified that he watched from "about two feet" away as Hunter Biden, in the course of purchasing a handgun in 2018, filled out Form 4473 and checked the box asking applicants whether they were active drug users.

After Hunter Biden selected the Colt Cobra for purchase, Cleveland said he asked him to fill out Form 4473, which he told him was required for "every gun purchase." Cleveland testified that he instructed Hunter Biden to write in his personal information and answer the questions below, "and to take your time answering them," he said.

Cleveland testified that he watched as Hunter Biden answered several questions on the form before he approached question 11.E., which asked about drug use.

"You saw him strike that box with an 'X'?" prosecutor Derek Hines asked.

"Yes," Cleveland said.

"He didn't seem to express any confusion by that question?" Hines asked.

"No," Cleveland said.


Hunter Biden 'knew he was using drugs,' prosecutor argues

Prosecutor Leo Wise, continuing his closing argument, laid out his case for conviction by telling jurors that the evidence in the case was "ugly" but "necessary" to establish Hunter Biden's drug use during the time in question -- as well as in the months before and after.

"He knew he was using drugs," Wise told the jury, a reference to the standard the jury must reach for conviction -- that Hunter Biden had to "knowingly" lie on the gun-purchase form on which he said he was not addicted to drugs.

"That's what the evidence shows," Wise said.

Wise emphasized repeatedly to the jury that the government is not required to show specifically that Hunter used drugs when he owned the gun from the Oct. 12-23, 2018 -- but rather they must "establish that pattern."

To that end, Wise referenced the text messages spanning back to 2015 in which Hunter Biden appeared to purchase drugs or reference his addiction, as well as the testimony from his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle and ex-girlfriend Hallie Biden, who said they either found his drug paraphernalia, saw him use drugs, or talked to him about it.

Wise also pointed to the testimony of ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan, who testified she saw Hunter Biden using drugs in late September 2018 -- just two weeks before he bought the gun.

"You can convict on that alone," Wise told the jury.

Wise also referenced Hunter Biden's memoir, "Beautiful Things," saying it was a "searingly painful" but "honest" description of himself and his addiction.

The evidence showed Hunter Biden "habitually used," Wise said.