Jury selection begins Monday in the federal gun case against Hunter Biden in Delaware.
Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, faces three charges related to gun possession while on narcotics. He pleaded not guilty.
The start of Biden’s trial comes just days after the conclusion of a criminal trial against the man his father is running against in the presidential race, former President Donald Trump. Trump was convicted in state court in New York of all 34 charges against him.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika said she plans to convene potential jurors in groups of 50 until they find 12 people who say they can be impartial when it comes to the president’s son.
According to a court filing, one of the questions she plans to ask potential jurors at the Wilmington courthouse is: “Does your opinion about the 2024 election or about any of the candidates for president in any way preclude you from making a to be a fair and impartial juror in court? this case,” and “Do you believe that Robert Hunter Biden is being prosecuted in this case because his father is the President of the United States and a candidate for President?” Another asks if they think he “won’t be prosecuted for other crimes because his father is the President of the United States.”
Conservative critics of the president have long tried to use his son’s legal issues against him. The president has denied any involvement in his son’s legal troubles or business affairs, and efforts by the Republican-led impeachment inquiry to find evidence of presidential misconduct have failed.
Other questions relate to jurors’ views on guns, including: ‘Do you believe that all people should be allowed by law to purchase or possess a firearm, regardless of whether they are or are a user of a controlled substance? or addicted to a controlled substance? ” Another asks, “Do you believe that the government should not be able to require background checks for gun purchases?”
Two of the indictments accuse Biden of filling out a form proving he was not using illegal drugs when he purchased a Colt Cobra revolver in October 2018. The third charge alleges he possessed a firearm while taking a narcotic. The indictment stated that Biden declared on a federally required form “that he was not an unlawful user of and addicted to stimulants, narcotics and other controlled substances, when in fact, as he knew, that statement was false and fictitious.” .”
Prosecutors from Special Counsel David Weiss’ office say they plan to call about a dozen witnesses. Among the witnesses they must call are Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, and his late brother’s widow, Hallie Olivere Biden.
Prosecutors are also expected to use parts of Hunter Biden’s memoir “Beautiful Things” as evidence against him, as well as a summary of data from his phone and iPad.
Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, has said he would like to call the gun shop owner as a witness, and would also like to call two to three expert witnesses. Weiss’ office has disputed the testimony of some experts.
The trial is expected to last two weeks, according to the judge, who was nominated to the court by Trump.
At a hearing in May, Noreika ruled that prosecutors would not be able to mention their other pending case against Hunter Biden in California, where he faces nine tax-related charges. He pleaded not guilty in the case, which is set to go to trial on September 5.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
