Hunter Biden to Determine Whether He Will Testify in Gun Trial

When Hunter Biden’s criminal trial resumes on Monday, he will make a decision about testifying. The charges against him involve allegations of hiding his drug use in 2018 to illegally purchase a gun.

Prosecutors rested their case on Friday after a week of testimony in the first criminal trial of a U.S. president’s child. The testimonies provided insight into Hunter Biden’s struggles with alcohol and crack cocaine abuse, which allegedly prevented him from legally obtaining a gun.

Hunter Biden, aged 54, pleaded not guilty to charges of lying about his addiction on a government screening document for a Colt Cobra revolver and illegally possessing the weapon for 11 days.

The defense will announce on Monday whether Hunter Biden will testify. Testifying can be risky for defendants as it subjects them to cross-examination.

The trial in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, follows the historic conviction of Donald Trump on May 30, making him the first U.S. president to be found guilty of a felony. Trump is running as the Republican challenger to Joe Biden in the upcoming presidential election on Nov. 5.

Trump and some Republicans claim that the case, along with three other criminal prosecutions, are politically motivated attempts to prevent him from regaining power.

Congressional Democrats point to the Hunter Biden prosecution as evidence that Joe Biden is not utilizing the justice system for political or personal gain.

Last week, Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, former girlfriend, and sister-in-law testified about his drug use for the prosecution. They shared concerns about his addiction and finding drugs in his possession.

Hunter Biden informed the judge during a 2023 hearing that he has been sober since 2019.

Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, argued during the opening statement that his client did not have the intention to deceive as he was clean when he purchased the gun and did not consider himself a drug user at the time.

The defense called three witnesses on Friday, including the gun shop owner, an employee, and Hunter Biden’s daughter Naomi. Naomi mentioned that her father seemed to be doing well in the weeks before and after he purchased the gun.

The sentencing guidelines for the charges against Biden range from 15 to 21 months. However, legal experts suggest that defendants in similar cases often receive shorter sentences and are less likely to be incarcerated if they comply with the terms of their pretrial release.