The prosecution presented its arguments this Tuesday (3) in the historic criminal trial of Hunter Biden on weapons-related charges. The prosecution told jurors that President Joe Biden's son is a drug addict and that he lied on a document to buy a gun, adding that “no one is above the law.”
Jurors in federal court in Delaware heard opening arguments from the prosecution and defense before the first witness, an FBI agent, took the stand.
Defense attorney Abbe Lowell told the jury that evidence presented at trial will show that Hunter Biden, 54, did not knowingly break the law.
The first trial of a son of a sitting president of the United States is under the supervision of federal judge Maryellen Noreika.
Last week, Donald Trump became the first former American president to be convicted of a crime.
Justice Department attorney Derek Hines walked jurors through the events of October 2018, when, according to prosecutors, Hunter Biden lied about his drug use on a background check for a gun purchase.
“It was illegal because he was a crack user and a drug addict,” Hines told the jury. “No one is above the law,” he added.
Trump is the Republican candidate who will face Democrat Joe Biden in the November 5 election.
Neither the prosecution nor the defense directly mentioned this issue.
Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to three criminal charges for failing to disclose illegal drug use when purchasing a .38 Colt Cobra revolver and illegally possessing the weapon for 11 days in October 2018.
Lowell asked jurors to listen carefully to the evidence that would be presented. The defense attorney stressed that the gun purchase form only questioned whether Hunter Biden was an addict at that time, and not whether he had used drugs in the past, adding that his client “had no intention of deceiving.”
The trial in federal court in the US city of Wilmington, where the Biden family lives, is being held as Trump and his allies in Congress continue to accuse the Justice Department of political persecution against the former Republican president.
Special prosecutor David Weiss, a Trump nominee, presented the case against Hunter Biden and was in court this Tuesday (4). Separately, Weiss also filed federal tax charges against Hunter Biden in California.
The trial is expected to examine Hunter Biden's years of drug addiction and alcoholism problems.
In a text message that the prosecution said will be played for jurors, Hunter Biden said he was behind a baseball stadium in Wilmington “waiting for a drug dealer named Mookie.”
Hines also told jurors they would have access to photos and bank records that would show Hunter knew he was an addict when he bought the gun, which the prosecution needs to prove to convict him.
Hunter Biden told Judge Noreika at a hearing last year that he has been sober since mid-2019.
Source: CNN Brasil
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