The judge in Hunter Biden’s gun case made several pretrial rulings, giving wins to both sides and establishing the parameters of the upcoming trial. The judge ruled that prosecutors must prove Biden was generally using drugs at the time he bought the gun in 2018, as opposed to specifically using drugs on the day of purchase, as Biden had argued for. Additionally, the authenticity of specific texts from Biden’s laptop that will be used as evidence was permitted to be challenged by his defense team.
Prosecutors plan to present a limited selection of laptop material, with messages that will be corroborated by a witness at trial. The trial, scheduled to begin on June 3, will see Biden facing charges of buying and possessing a firearm while addicted to illegal drugs and lying on a form about his drug use. The trial could potentially last up to two weeks, with the jury selection process included. Biden has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Separately, Biden has secured a delay in his tax-evasion trial, which had been scheduled for late June but is now pushed back to September. In the gun case, questions were raised about the ATF forms Biden filled out when purchasing the firearm, specifically regarding a false statement he made about not using illegal drugs. Credibility issues surrounding the forms and the gun store staff have emerged, with claims that the form was altered by adding additional information.
There is uncertainty around whether Biden will take the stand in his own defense, which could impact the issues contested during the trial. Both the prosecution and defense agreed on many motions regarding what the jury can hear, with limitations on certain evidence such as information from failed plea deals, past paternity cases, and discharge from the Navy. The judge granted Biden’s request to exclude references to his tax case, but this may change if he decides to testify. The story will continue to be updated with additional details.
Overall, the judge made key decisions in Hunter Biden’s gun case, outlining what evidence will be allowed at trial and setting the stage for a potentially contentious legal battle. The prosecution will need to prove Biden’s drug use at the time of the firearm purchase, while the defense will challenge the authenticity of specific laptop texts. Biden faces serious charges, including lying on an ATF form about drug use, which raises credibility issues around the form and the gun store staff. The possibility of Biden testifying could impact the trial proceedings, with potential implications for what the jury can hear. The case continues to develop, with updates expected as the trial date approaches.
