Hunter Biden’s former spouse to give testimony on drug use during trial

A hearing is expected on Wednesday where the ex-wife of Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, will testify about his drug use that prosecutors claim he lied about to purchase a gun illegally.

Prosecutors in the first trial of a U.S. president’s child allege that evidence will show Hunter Biden knowingly lied about his drug use when buying a revolver in October 2018. His defense lawyer argues that Hunter Biden was not using drugs at the time and did not intend to deceive.

Jurors were presented with text messages, bank records, and excerpts from Hunter Biden’s memoir audiobook to show his alleged drug use around the time of the gun purchase, including the day after it was bought.

Prosecutor Derek Hines stated, “Addiction is not a crime. Lying is.” Hunter Biden, 54, has pleaded not guilty to three felony charges related to failing to disclose his drug use when purchasing the gun and illegally possessing it for 11 days.

The trial follows the conviction of Donald Trump, the first U.S. president found guilty of a felony. No direct connection to this was made at Hunter Biden’s trial, but the prosecution emphasized that “no one is above the law.”

Next, jurors will hear testimonies from Hunter Biden’s ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, former girlfriend Zoe Kestan, and Hallie Biden, the widow of his late brother Beau Biden. These witnesses are expected to speak about Hunter Biden’s struggles with drugs and alcohol over the years.

Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, mentioned that his client has been open about his addiction struggles in his 2021 memoir “Beautiful Things.” The defense aims to show that Hunter Biden was sober and not using drugs when he bought the gun.

Donald Trump is set to be sentenced on July 11 following his recent conviction on 34 felony counts in New York. He faces three other criminal cases, including charges related to attempting to overturn the 2020 election results and unlawfully retaining classified documents after leaving office in 2021.