With the jury in place, Hunter Biden’s trial for allegedly violating federal firearms laws kicked off Tuesday with opening statements in a federal courtroom in Delaware.
In 2018, Hunter Biden, now 54, purchased a firearm from a licensed dealer, and, when filling in Form 4473, responded “no” to the question of whether he was “an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance.” However, per Hunter’s own account of his addiction—as chronicled in his 2021 book, Beautiful Things—it is almost certain that he was an addict at the time he purchased the gun.
Under the terms of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993—a law that then-Sen. Joe Biden shepherded through the U.S. Senate—lying on Form 4473 is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison, thus the current trial.
In the courtroom on Tuesday, prosecutors focused on the younger Biden’s history of drug abuse.
“Addiction may not be a choice, but lying to buy a gun is,” Prosecutor Derek Hines said during the proceedings. “No one is allowed to lie on a form like that.”
During the trial, prosecutors played for jurors excerpts from the audiobook of Biden’s memoir, narrated by Hunter himself. Jurors heard Biden describe his 2017 “crack-filled cross-country odyssey” in 2017 and how, at one point, he was using crack “every hour, every day.” Prosecutors also entered into evidence Biden’s infamous laptop filled with damning information and photographs.
Prosecutors also called their first witness on Tuesday, FBI Special Agent Erika Jensen, who verified that the laptop was, indeed, owned by the president’s son.
For the defense’s part, attorneys argued that the younger Biden had been in rehab and trying to get sober. Thus, they argued, there is a difference on a form between the question “are you a drug user” and “have you been a drug user?”
“He did not knowingly violate these laws,” said Abby Lowell, Biden’s defense attorney, adding that there was, “nothing on the form about the definition of a user.”
Biden’s attorneys are expected to make a defense based on what they call the “unconstitutionality” of the law restricting addicts from purchasing firearms. Late last month they used that argument in trying to have the case thrown out, but were rebuffed by a three-judge panel of the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.
“The defendant’s Second Amendment defense does not implicate a right not to be tried that can be collaterally appealed,” the court ruled. “Constitutional defenses, like the defendant’s Second Amendment defense, can be effectively reviewed on appeal after final judgment.”
During that trial, Hunter Biden’s legal team had argued, “The chilling effect on Second Amendment rights caused by both this prosecution and the district court order may persist long after this case is resolved on the merits.”
Interestingly, a close look at the 2022 Bruen decision indicates that Biden’s attorneys might have a good point, as it’s questionable whether the government can prove a “historical precedent from before, during and even after the founding [that] evidences a comparable tradition of regulation.”
Wednesday’s proceedings will start with the defense’s cross examination of the prosecution’s first witness. The trial is expected to last one to two weeks, and the total charges Biden faces carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
First of all it is no business of the .gov what we put into our bodies. Second it is no business of the .gov how many and of what type of firearm we buy and carry.
But since the big guy is instrumental in these human rights denying laws it is true justice that his spawn gets caught in the system.
In one of my darker, more cynical moments I had this thought . . . Trump wins, Biden pardons him on his way out the door, then Trump returns the favor and pardons li’l Hunty Crackhoar.
In a somewhat related note, appears Biden just shit himself on the world stage at Normandy memorial ceremony, and Jilly had to lead him away to change his diaper. America is BACK, baby!!!
Oh no, I thought that was a joke. It really happened?
“Interestingly, a close look at the 2022 Bruen decision indicates that Biden’s attorneys might have a good point, as it’s questionable whether the government can prove a “historical precedent from before, during and even after the founding [that] evidences a comparable tradition of regulation.””
A parallel could be made if drunks were barred from gun possession back then, since alcohol is also a chemical intoxicant…
Gosh, I’m so dang conflicted! I’m always enthusiastic about a win for the 2A, but I’m kind of excited that (for once) a high-profile leftist will be flying coach in our multi-tiered justice system, just like the rest of us peons ordinarily would.
Does that mean I win no matter what? Or does it mean I lose…?
“Does that mean I win no matter what? Or does it mean I lose…?”
One, the other, or both, you get to decide! 🙂
This is the kind of show where you get to make popcorn and sit back and watch the performance. Tough to see a bad outcome on this one. I wonder if the judge is going to let Hunters lawyers argue that dirtbag addict in posession is an unconstitutional violation of his rights.
Tend to agree. One thing for sure, Hunter had a helluva good time. All the women associated with him were good looking, and he partied like a rock star for years.
All Democrats are degenerate junkies and dope smoking losers.
The same with liberaltarians.
hunter fjb agreed to the terms of the 4473 with his signature…Attempting to skate around the terms of such a signed agreement is song and dance.
Can’t believe this numnuts even wrote a “memoir”. Most of the time that is reserved for people who’ve actually accomplished something is it not? As far as i can tell being the president’s son is the big accomplishment i guess.
Doing blow, slappin hoes and his “artwork” were clearly major “accomplishments”.
We’re very proud of Hunter.
/Joe and Jill Biden
I can’t believe you would take such a mean-spirited swipe at the arts like that.
Yep if I’m bound by that 4473 so is the loser Biden(but I digress). Do I think my errant son should have “gun rights” having spent a year in jail for what should have been a looney bin committal? He’s unstable so there’s that. He also doesn’t care to get that expunged(I offered to help). But he asked to take him shooting which puts me in a bad predicament especially in ILLannoy. My son is my son even at 46😧
🤜🤛🙂✌
What an idiotic defense.
It’ll work if Biden’s goons were able to discuss knee caps with the jury.
I cannot think of a single reason why something like that would NOT happen.
Along the same lines, I having this nagging hunch that goons provided similar knee cap incentives to Trump’s jury to ensure that they arrived at the “correct” verdict.
“an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance.” My problem is with the wording of this sentence. It is purposefully vague. Many people use MJ causally, just like alcohol and with out the complications that come from addiction. Alcohol is infinitely more dangerous than MJ. Alcohol is more available than MJ. Alcohol is said to be more disorienting than MJ. Second, that lack of a time parameter is a problem for me. People can stop using for days, weeks, months proving they are NOT addicted to their chosen intoxicant and therefore legally buy a firearm. I say get rid of the form 4473.
Here’s an actual feel-good story, bad guy dead, underage good guy gets no charges!
Don’t you just *love* these happy endings?
Reminds me of a song…”And it may found funny, but I’ve come to get my money back.” I see that didn’t work out so well this time around.
Hunter Biden in biology class.
Hunter, what is this plant?
Teacher, do you smoke it, snort it, pop it, or inject it?
What a family! The old senile big guy showers with his daughter. What (who?) was Jill doing while he was in the shower? Hunter sleeps with his dead brothers wife and keeps his crack (and parmesan cheese) in his gun case with his gun. Not a huge fan of Trump, but he comes in way ahead of this degenerate bunch.
There’s also Hunter’s inappropriate relationship with his then 14-year-old niece. Ashley was an addict as well. Both Ashley and Hunter mentioned resenting their father in the laptop and diary.
“Addiction may not be a choice”.
For 95% of drug addicts it is, drug addiction is not a disease, the cocaine mosquitoes don’t cause addiction.
He wrote he was doing crack in 2017, he bought the gunm in 2018.
If the 4473 wants to trip you up the BATFE needs to change the wording.
3 DUI’s is a felony.
How many has Hunter been convicted of?
Shall Not Be Infringed?
LMAO what a joke a Right is.
I would argue in Biden’s defense that the drugs made him smarter,even the President of the United States says so.
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