Jury deliberations begin in Hunter Biden trial
Jun 10, 2024, 1:49 PM | Updated: 2:15 pm
WILMINGTON, Del. — The jury in the Hunter Biden trial has begun deliberations. Jurors will decide if the president’s son is guilty of federal firearm charges.
During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the president’s son purchased a gun while he was dealing with a crack cocaine addiction, the Associated Press reported.
Prosecutors said that Biden lied about his drug use on a federal form during the 2018 purchase of a .38 caliber Colt Cobra Special.
CNN reported that the defense team in the Hunter Biden trial made a “strong emotional appeal.”
Hunter Biden trial: President’s son charged with three counts
Biden has been charged with three counts.
The first two counts, according to CNN, are associated with the gun purchase.
Federal forms that Biden filled out during the purchase inquired into the use of, or addiction to, illegal drugs. Allegedly, Biden checked that box with “no.”
While Biden pleaded not guilty to the charges, he has been open about his struggles with addiction in the past.
The third count of indictment is related to the possession of a firearm while abusing drugs. In October 2018, Biden was allegedly in possession of the gun for 11 days, per the Associated Press.
CNN reported that his girlfriend threw the gun in a dumpster. The indictment said she discarded it because she was concerned about his mental health.
If he is convicted on all three counts, Biden could face up to 25 years in prison. Additionally, he could make American history, becoming the first son of a sitting president to be convicted in a federal court.
After the verdict comes back, his punishment, if any, will be left solely up to the trial’s judge.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
