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5 things to know about Hunter Biden trial

5 things to know about Hunter Biden trial

Hunter Biden’s federal gun crime trial kicked off with jury selection on Monday in Delaware, launching proceedings that are sure to hold the nation’s attention in the days and weeks to come. Here are some key facts to know about the trial moving forward. Hunter is charged with one count of making false statements in a firearm purchase, another count of making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a licensed firearm dealer, and one count of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. If he is found guilty on all charges, he could face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release.  JUDGE BARS PROSECUTORS FROM USING SOME SALACIOUS EVIDENCE IN HUNTER BIDEN’S GUN TRIAL According to an indictment, Hunter Biden bought a Colt Cobra revolver on Oct. 12, 2018, and “knowingly made a false and fictitious written statement, intended and likely to deceive that dealer with respect to a fact material to the lawfulness of the sale of the firearm … certifying he was not an unlawful user of, and addicted to, any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance, when in fact, as he knew, that statement was false and fictitious.” Hunter’s charges allege that he was addicted to drugs at the time he purchased the firearm, meaning prosecutors do not need to prove that he was in fact on drugs at the moment of the purchase. Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett summarized Hunter’s “crazy” defense plan in a Monday morning appearance on “Fox & Friends.” “The best witness against Hunter Biden is Hunter Biden,” Jarrett said. “I mean, [he] wrote a book explaining in detail how he was a drug addict at the exact time that he bought a gun and then allegedly lied about it, so he incriminated himself, and it was incredibly foolish to cash in by peddling a book about your addiction when you know you’re under criminal investigation for an addiction related crime.” HUNTER BIDEN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO TAX CHARGES BROUGHT BY SPECIAL COUNSEL DAVID WEISS Jarrett said Hunter’s main defense hinges on denial of addiction and rehab, with a backup defense of being too strung out to intend wrongdoing. His defense may also attempt to challenge the Second Amendment, despite his father’s advocacy for stricter gun laws. HUNTER BIDEN IS IN COURT IN DELAWARE. HERE’S WHAT HE DOESN’T WANT THE JURY TO HEAR “His dad is on record railing against the Second Amendment,” Jarrett said. “And arguing strict gun laws should always be enforced, except for, you know, maybe against my own son. So, it’s a crazy defense.” First lady Jill Biden, Hunter’s stepmother, attended the first day of his trial alongside Hunter’s sister, Ashley Biden, on Monday. Hunter arrived at court while holding hands with wife Melissa Cohen Biden. Hunter’s father, President Biden, has not announced any plans to attend the proceedings. The judge in Hunter’s trial has ruled that the prosecution cannot use some salacious evidence in the proceedings, including references to his U.S. Navy discharge and the child support case for his out-of-wedlock daughter in Arkansas. Judge Maryellen Noreika said the government may use part of Hunter Biden’s book in which he discusses his addiction to drugs. The prosecution does not plan to bring out Hunter Biden’s entire infamous laptop, which leaked in 2020 just before the presidential election, but may introduce certain pieces of information. Noreika ruled that Hunter Biden’s team will be able to question aspects of the laptop in front of the jury.  In what is called a “motion in limine,” Hunter Biden asked the court “to exclude reference to the child support proceedings in Arkansas and reference to his discharge from the Navy.” This is in reference to the child he fathered out-of-wedlock with ex-stripper Lunden Roberts. Hunter’s gun crime charges are not the only criminal charges against him. The first son is also facing federal tax charges in California. Hunter will have to attend federal court in Los Angeles this month for tax evasion charges. That case stems from a years-long investigation conducted by Special Counsel David Weiss. Weiss charged Hunter Biden in December, alleging a “four-year scheme” in which the president’s son did not pay his federal income taxes from January 2017 to October 2020 while also filing false tax reports. Hunter has pleaded not guilty to all charges in that case, with a trial scheduled to begin on June 20.

US v Hunter Biden: Opening arguments to begin in first son’s federal gun trial after jury seated

US v Hunter Biden: Opening arguments to begin in first son’s federal gun trial after jury seated

Opening arguments are expected to begin in United States v. Hunter Biden on Tuesday morning. The trial for the first son began in Wilmington in the U.S. District Court for Delaware on Monday. Jury selection lasted for a few hours, and a final jury of 12 jurors plus four alternates were seated Monday afternoon. HUNTER BIDEN’S CRIMINAL TRIAL ON FEDERAL GUN CHARGES BEGINS WITH JURY SELECTION Judge Maryellen Noreika, who is presiding over the trial, instructed the jurors not to talk about the case during their time on the jury and to keep an open mind.  During the selection process Monday, almost all the potential jurors said they knew someone who has been or is currently experiencing substance abuse or addiction. Almost every potential juror also said they had heard about the Hunter Biden case in the news. JUDGE BARS PROSECUTORS FROM USING SOME SALACIOUS EVIDENCE IN HUNTER BIDEN’S GUN TRIAL Opening arguments will be delivered by government prosecutors from Special Counsel David Weiss’ office. Hunter Biden’s defense attorney is Abbe Lowell. The first son’s trial stems from Special Counsel David Weiss’ years-long investigation. Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to federal gun charges in Delaware after Weiss charged him with making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm; making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a licensed firearm dealer; and one count of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.  With all counts combined, the total maximum prison time for the charges could be up to 25 years. Each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release.  During the first day of the trial, Hunter Biden was joined by his stepmother, first lady Jill Biden. Monday was the first lady’s 73rd birthday. His sister, Ashley Biden, and his wife, Melissa Cohen, also attended the trial Monday. At the start of the proceedings, Hunter greeted his mother with a joke, according to the Washington Post. “Happy Birthday,” he reportedly said. “I got you a special event.” The two then reportedly laughed. President Biden did not attend his son’s trial but put out a statement. HUNTER BIDEN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL GUN CHARGES OUT OF SPECIAL COUNSEL DAVID WEISS’ PROBE “I am the President, but I am also a Dad,” President Biden said in his statement on Monday. “Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. Hunter’s resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery are inspiring to us.” “A lot of families have loved ones who have overcome addiction and know what we mean. As the President, I don’t and won’t comment on pending federal cases, but as a Dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength. Our family has been through a lot together, and Jill and I are going to continue to be there for Hunter and our family with our love and support.” Last year, before his son was charged, in a rare sit-down interview in May 2023, President Biden said, “My son has done nothing wrong. I trust him. I have faith in him, and it impacts my presidency by making me feel proud of him.” Meanwhile, the trial began nearly a year after Noreika questioned a plea deal between prosecutors and Hunter Biden, which subsequently fell apart. The agreement, blasted as a “sweetheart” deal by congressional Republicans, appeared to convey broad immunity to the president’s son on a host of potential criminal charges. According to an indictment, Hunter Biden bought a Colt Cobra revolver on Oct. 12, 2018, and “knowingly made a false and fictitious written statement, intended and likely to deceive that dealer with respect to a fact material to the lawfulness of the sale of the firearm … certifying he was not an unlawful user of, and addicted to, any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance, when in fact, as he knew, that statement was false and fictitious.”  The indictment also charges Hunter Biden with possessing that gun, which was “shipped and transported in interstate commerce,” for nearly a week despite being addicted to narcotics. Fox News first reported in 2021 that police had responded to an incident in 2018, when a gun owned by Hunter was thrown into a trash can outside a market in Delaware. A source with knowledge of the Oct. 23, 2018, police report told Fox News it indicated that Hallie Biden, who is the widow of President Biden’s late son, Beau, and who was in a relationship with Hunter at the time, threw a gun owned by Hunter in a dumpster behind a market near a school. Hallie Biden may be required to testify during Hunter Biden’s trial. A firearm transaction report reviewed by Fox News indicated Hunter purchased a gun earlier that month. On the firearm transaction report, Hunter answered in the negative when asked if he was “an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance.” Hunter was discharged from the Navy in 2014 after testing positive for cocaine. Noreika ruled ahead of the trial that Weiss’s team cannot use some salacious evidence in Hunter’s criminal trial, including references to the Navy discharge and his child support case for his out-of-wedlock daughter in Arkansas.  HUNTER BIDEN TAX TRIAL POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER Noreika also said Weiss must show Hunter Biden was addicted to drugs but not necessarily using drugs the day he purchased the gun.  Noreika said the government may use part of Hunter Biden’s book in which he discusses his addiction to drugs. The prosecution does not plan to bring out the entire infamous laptop containing details of Hunter Biden’s life but will introduce certain portions. Noreika ruled that Hunter Biden’s team is allowed to question aspects of the laptop in front of the jury. The laptop,

Trump, Biden face tests in final 2024 presidential primaries

Trump, Biden face tests in final 2024 presidential primaries

After nearly five months and more than 100 primaries and caucuses, the 2024 presidential nominating season comes to a close this month. Voters in Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota and Washington, D.C., head to the polls Tuesday for both presidential and state primaries. Voters in Iowa, which already held its presidential caucuses, will cast ballots in state primaries. The White House nominating calendar will wrap up four days later, with Democratic caucuses in Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands on June 8. And while President Biden and former President Trump clinched the Democratic and Republican nominations nearly three months ago, there’s still some drama in the final contests. WITH THE VERDICT IN AND HIS CRIMINAL TRIAL OVER, TRUMP IS ‘UNLEASHED’ Tuesday’s Republicans primaries are the first since Trump was found guilty in his criminal trial in New York City, making history as the first former or current president to be convicted of felony crimes. It’s also the first round of GOP presidential contests since Trump’s final rival for the nomination – former U.N. ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley – said she would vote for Trump in the general election, after staying silent for months. AFTER MONTHS OF SILENCE, WHAT NIKKI HALEY SAID ABOUT TRUMP Haley, who suspended her campaign in early March, has continued to grab up to 20% of the vote in Republican presidential primaries even though she’s essentially a zombie candidate. Haley will appear on the primary ballot in New Mexico. The president will likely continue to face a protest vote through the “uncommitted” option on the ballot, as part of protests against his support for Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza. Tuesday’s primaries set up battle for Senate majority Three states are holding Senate primaries that will set up general election showdowns that may decide whether the Republicans win back control of the chamber. In reliably red Montana, Tim Sheehy is the clear favorite to win the GOP Senate nomination and challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in November. Tester, whom the GOP considers extremely vulnerable in a state Trump won by 16-points four years ago, is being heavily targeted by Republicans. Sheehy – a decorated military veteran and successful businessman who is backed by both Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is the Senate GOP’s campaign arm – is facing off against two rivals on Tuesday. It’s been 22 years since a Republican won a Senate election in New Mexico, a one-time swing state that nowadays leans blue.  The last GOP politician to win was Sen. Pete Domenici, who was re-elected to a sixth term in 2002. Fast-forward 22 years and now his daughter, businesswoman Nella Domenici, aims to end the losing streak. The younger Domenici, who has years of experience in the finance industry, including serving as chief financial officer at Bridgewater Associates, will use her powerful political brand and ample name recognition in New Mexico as she challenges Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich, who is running in November for a third six-year term. Neither candidate faces a serious challenge in Tuesday’s primaries. SIX SENATE SEATS THE GOP AIMS TO FLIP IN NOVEMBER’S ELECTIONS It’s been over a half century since a Republican won a Senate election in blue state New Jersey. But Republicans believe they have a shot this time around. A major reason for the optimism is the prospect of a three-way race in New Jersey. Longtime Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who is on trial for federal corruption charges, is not running for re-election as a Democrat. On Monday, Menendez filed a petition with nearly 2,500 signatures to run for re-election as an independent. Polls indicate the embattled senator’s independent bid would potentially take votes away from likely Democratic Senate nominee Rep. Andy Kim. Kim, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, faces labor leader Patricia Campos-Medina and activist Lawrence Hamm in the primary. The Republican primary will be a test of Trump’s immense clout in contested GOP primaries. Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner was endorsed by Trump a couple of weeks ago at a large rally the former president held in Wildwood, New Jersey. Real estate developer and hotelier Curtis Bashaw is the leading fundraiser in the Republican nomination race.  He also enjoys an advantage on the primary ballot, as he has the county line in two-thirds of the state’s 21 counties.  New Jersey has long allowed counties to print ballots that include a prominent party line, which are widely viewed as helping candidates with establishment backing. Kim sued in federal court to overturn the county lines in the Democratic primary. But the GOP county lines were upheld. Navy veteran Albert Harshaw and former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Murphy are also running in the Republican Senate primary. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.