What to know about the federal gun trial Hunter Biden faces this week
CNN
Hunter Biden is set to stand trial Monday on felony gun charges in a historic case that could impact President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.
Hunter Biden is set to stand trial Monday on felony gun charges in a historic case that could impact President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign. This is the first time in American history that the child of the sitting president is going on trial. The indictment was brought by the Justice Department, specifically by David Weiss, the special counsel appointed last year to oversee the Hunter Biden probes. Hunter Biden, 54, is accused of illegally purchasing and possessing a gun while abusing or being addicted to drugs, a violation of federal law. He pleaded not guilty to the three charges, though he has been open about his struggles with alcohol and crack cocaine addiction. The trial could last one to two weeks and is taking place in Wilmington, Delaware. The first two charges in the three-count indictment are tied to the gun purchase itself. When a person buys a gun, they must fill out a form with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and affirm that they are legally allowed to buy the weapon. Hunter Biden has been charged with lying on those forms.
After recent burglaries at homes of professional athletes – including Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce – the NFL and NBA have issued security memos to teams and players warning that “organized and skilled groups” are increasingly targeting players’ residences for such crimes.