The jury began deliberations in the trial of Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, accused of buying a gun while under the influence of drugs.
The trial in which Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, was accused of buying a gun while under the influence of drugs continued in Delaware District Court. During the hearing where witnesses testified, Hunter Biden’s daughter Naomi Biden gave information about her visits to her father in 2018. Explaining that she visited her father in Los Angeles in August and September while he was undergoing rehabilitation treatment, Naomi Biden said about her visit with her ex-boyfriend, who is now her husband, “It was the cleanest I had seen my father since my uncle died. I was proud of him and I was proud to introduce my boyfriend at the time to him.”
“The timing is not important”
In his closing statement, Prosecutor Leo Wise emphasized that the prosecution did not have to prove that Hunter Biden used drugs on a particular day. “The United States does not have the burden of proving that drugs were used in October,” Wise said, adding that the legal standard is that Hunter Biden was “actively engaged in drug use” at the time he purchased the gun. “You can only convict based on these facts,” Wise said, claiming that Hunter Biden “knew he was using drugs” at the time he purchased the gun in the case.
“No one is above the law”
Addressing the jurors, Wise pointed out that the reputation of Hunter Biden’s relatives in the courtroom should not affect the impartiality of the trial. “The people sitting in the courtroom are not evidence. You may know them from the news, but that doesn’t matter,” Wise said, adding, ‘You must make your decision based solely on the evidence.’ “No one is above the law and this case represents that simple premise,” Wise said, adding, “Prosecutors need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hunter Biden is guilty. This is our responsibility.”
“The allegations are based on conjecture”
Hunter Biden’s lawyer Abbe Lowell argued that the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hunter Biden was actively using drugs at the time he bought the gun. Stating that no one witnessed Hunter Biden using drugs in the month he bought the gun, Lowell claimed that the case was based on “suspicion” and “conjecture”. After the closing statements, the jurors began deliberating to decide whether Hunter Biden is guilty or not. It was announced that the trial will continue tomorrow with the jurors’ evaluation.
Could be sentenced to 25 years in prison
Hunter Biden, who is known to have turned to drugs and alcohol after his brother Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015, is accused of purchasing firearms in the state of Delaware in 2018 while in the grip of drug addiction. The charges against Hunter Biden include lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making false statements when buying a gun, and illegally possessing a gun for 11 days. It is stated that Hunter Biden could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison at the end of the trial, which is important because it is the first time the son of a sitting US president appears before a judge.
