Hunter Biden trial: President changes his schedule to be with his son after guilty verdict
After three hours of deliberations, the jury convicted the president’s son on all charges
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Hours after the verdict, the White House Press Office announced that the president’s schedule had changed and that he would head hometown. Later that afternoon, Biden landed in Delaware – greeting his son, daughter-in-law and grandson on the tarmac.
Hunter was charged with two counts of making false statements and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm for obtaining a gun in October 2018 while he was addicted to crack cocaine.
The president has already said he will not pardon his son but issued a statement saying he and first lady Jill Biden love and support their son and are proud of his resilience in recovery.
Throughout Hunter’s federal gun charges trial, members of the Biden family flocked to the courthouse to show their support for the defendant.
On Tuesday evening, CNN aired a montage comparing and contrasting the very different reaction of Fox News hosts to the criminal convictions of Donald Trump and the younger Biden at their respective trials.
Hunter Biden enters court for fifth day
Hunter Biden and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, arrived at federal court on Monday for the fifth day of proceedings.
Jill Biden arrives at court
Judge reviewing jury instructions
Judge Maryellen Noreika is going over jury instructions with both sides this morning before the jury enters court.
Jury is expected to enter around 9am in which the defense will either continue calling witnesses or rest their case.
Catch up with Friday’s proceedings
On the fourth day of the trial, the prosecution rested its case after a week of focusing on the severity of Hunter Biden’s drug problem. The defense began by calling a former employee and owner of the gun shop where Hunter purchased the firearm on 12 October, 2018 before calling President Joe Biden’s granddaughter, Naomi Biden.
Gustaf Kilander has more:
Tearful Hunter Biden watches daughter testify how ‘things got bad’ after Beau’s death
‘Nervous’ granddaughter of President Joe Biden took the stand at her father’s federal gun trial on Friday
Charging conference concludes
This morning’s conference about jury instructions has concluded with defense attorneys indicating Hunter Biden will not testify.
Defense asked Judge Noreika to include the language “knowingly” in the instructions – something he claims is a crucial part of the defense’s case.
Who is in court today?
Hunter Biden is in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware with members of his family and close friends there to support him.
That includes his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden; his mother, First Lady Jill Biden; his sister Ashley Biden; his aunt Valerie Biden; his uncle James Biden and his friend and benefactor Kevin Morris.
Lengthy sidebar delays trial start
Lawyers for the prosecution and defense had a long discussion with Judge Maryellen Noreika that delayed the initial start of proceedings on Monday.
It is unclear what the group was discussing but upon returning, the judge gave a short break before welcoming the jury.
Defense rests
Hunter Biden’s defense attorneys have rested their case – forgoing putting Hunter on the stand.
The trial will now move to closing arguments.
Could Hunter Biden go to jail?
Hunter Biden’s fate in his federal gun charges trial will soon be in the hands of 12 Delaware residents.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years and fines of up to $750,000. However, there is no minimum sentence.
Ariana Baio reports:
Could Hunter Biden go to jail?
Nonviolent first-time offenders typically do not receive harsh punishments
Prosecution present rebuttal with FBI agent
Federal prosecutors called FBI agent Erika Jensen to the stand again for the rebuttal portion of court.
Jensen, who collected evidence of Hunter Biden’s prior drug use through his memoir and messages found on his laptop, testified that Hunter texted his sister-in-law and former girlfriend, Hallie Biden on October 10th about meeting a drug dealer.
That was just two days before he purchased a firearm.
It is the closest date prosecutors can point to Biden potentially using drugs before purchasing the firearm.
Jensen testified about location data that showed Biden near Hallie Biden’s home and the 7-11 where he was set to meet the drug dealer