The federal prosecutors in the trial against President Joe Biden’s son in Delaware have rested their case.
Attorneys for Hunter Biden are now expected to briefly present their defense before wrapping up early next week. The president has said he will not pardon his son if he is convicted.
Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty in October to three felony charges for reportedly obtaining a firearm while addicted to crack cocaine. During opening statements on June 4, the prosecution argued Biden checked “No” when asked if he unlawfully used or was addicted to marijuana or other narcotics on a federal form while buying the firearm that was later thrown out by his then-girlfriend and late brother’s widow, Hallie Biden.
“No one is allowed to lie on a federal form like that, even Hunter Biden,” said prosecutor Derek Hines, per The Hill. “He crossed the line when he chose to buy a gun and lied about a federal background check. … The defendant’s choice to buy a gun is why we are here.”
The prosecution also played experts from Hunter Biden’s 2021 memoir – which he narrated – detailing his own view of his addiction and his “superpower” for buying crack cocaine in any city.
Abbe Lowell, the younger Biden’s attorney, has argued that his client did not consider himself an addict because he had just completed 11 days in a rehabilitation program. He also argued the 2021 memoir did not necessarily capture his mindset in 2018.
First Lady Jill Biden, Hunter’s stepmother, attended jury selection at the start of the week before departing for France.
The prosecution played the jury a video of Biden weighing crack cocaine on a scale and showed pictures from his laptop in disheveled rooms, shirtless and holding a crack pipe.
In addition to Hallie Biden, Kathleen Buhle, Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, and Zoe Kestan, his ex-girlfriend, both testified about Biden’s addiction and drug use before the prosecution rested on June 7.
Lowell began his defense by “calling another gun store clerk who was there when Hunter Biden bought the gun, raising questions about what he saw as inconsistencies on the form,” per AP News.
“Prosecutors only called one of the clerks. The defense also called the owner of the shop,” note the outlet.
The defense’s second witness was Naomi Biden, Hunter’s daughter, who recounted visiting her dad and his “sober coach” at the rehab facility in 2018.
The president’s son could face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines.
Hunter Biden previously agreed to a plea deal in July relating to federal tax charges. Later, he pleaded not guilty to the charges when the deal was paused by United States District Judge Maryellen Noreika.
President Joe Biden says he will not pardon his son if he is convicted of federal gun charges.
While speaking with ABC News’ David Muir before a D-Day anniversary service in France, Biden briefly addressed the trial which marks the first time the child of a sitting president has been criminally prosecuted.
The president simply said “Yes” when asked if he would rule out pardoning his son. He also said “Yes” when asked if he would accept the outcome of the jury trial.
