Hunter Biden arrived Monday for jury selection in a gun case that could embarrass his father. Joe Bidenand hand a political weapon to Republicans desperate for a distraction in the wake of last week’s conviction of Donald Trump, who was convicted on 34 counts.
Jill Biden, the first lady, also arrived Monday morning for jury selection at the federal courthouse in Delaware, where her stepson is on trial.
Prosecutors allege Hunter Biden lied on application forms about his drug use when he bought a gun in 2018.
In theory he could receive a heavy prison sentence, but that is widely considered very unlikely. He has long struggled with addiction problems and a troubled private life.
The president’s son has acknowledged that he was struggling with an addiction to crack cocaine during that period in 2018, but his lawyers say he did not break the law. In his memoir Beautiful Things, he described being consumed by drugs and alcohol after his older brother, Beau, died of brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46. The brothers were very close, having survived a car accident at a young age that killed their mother and sister.
Related: The gun trial against Hunter Biden will start next month after the judge rejected the bid for a postponement
Hunter Biden has said he has been sober since 2019. But prosecutors plan to use his memoir to prove he knew he was addicted to drugs when he denied it on the form everyone must fill out when buying a gun.
A plea deal aimed at avoiding a trial collapsed last year, though it’s possible some form of pact could still be revived as the trial begins to play out. But one thing that is considered certain is that Republicans will use Hunter Biden’s trial — and another more serious trial on tax issues set to take place in September — as a weapon to attack Joe Biden, as they have been trying to do for years .
Republicans will undoubtedly be motivated by Trump’s many legal problems. The former president, who was seen as the party’s 2024 nominee, was found guilty last week of falsifying corporate records related to hush money payments to adult film actor Stormy Daniels to cover up an affair seen as a possible threat for his election prospects in 2016. Like Hunter Biden, Trump could also face jail time, although that too is considered unlikely.
The timing of the trial is unfortunate for Democrats, who want to emphasize Trump’s historic first of being the only American president to become a felon. But Joe Biden, in keeping with his reputation as a close family man, has supported Hunter Biden through all his troubles and this is unlikely to change during the trial, which is expected to last about a week.
However, the process could reveal potentially embarrassing family information.
David C. Weiss, special counsel overseeing the prosecution, has indicated he will call Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, to the stand. Prosecutors may also call Hallie Biden, the widow of Joe Biden’s son Beau, who died of brain cancer. Hallie Biden was dating Hunter Biden when he bought a gun in 2018.
