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.


Special counsel says Garland gave him independence to investigate

Special counsel David Weiss, whose office prosecuted Hunter Biden, said following the verdict that Hunter Biden should be held no more accountable than any other citizen regarding the charges.

Weiss said while much of the testimony in the case was about Hunter Biden's abuse of drugs and alcohol, "Ultimately this case was not just about addiction, a disease that haunts families across the United States including Hunter Biden's."

This case was about "illegal choices [the] defendant made while in the throes of addiction, his choice to lie on a government form when he bought a gun, and the choice to possess that gun," he said.

It was also about "the rule of law," Weiss said. "No one in this country is above the law," he said.

Weiss, a Trump appointee, thanked Attorney General Merrick Garland for "ensuring that we have the independence to appropriately pursue our investigations and prosecutions."