Jurors at the criminal gun trial of Hunter Biden did not reach a verdict after their first day of deliberations. The son of President Joe Biden is charged with three crimes related to possessing a handgun while being a drug user. The jury deliberated for about an hour before going home. Closing arguments were made by the prosecution and defense, urging jurors to focus on the evidence rather than outside influences of supporters. The prosecution argued that Biden was aware he was using drugs, while the defense emphasized the prosecution’s high burden of proof in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leo Wise told jurors to focus on the evidence presented in the case, emphasizing the necessity of proving that Biden was an unlawful user of drugs. Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, argued that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Biden knew he was an addict during the period in question. Despite the prosecution’s claim that Biden made a false statement on a form when purchasing a handgun, Lowell maintained that Biden did not believe his statements were false. The defense urged the jury to consider the high burden of proof required to find Biden guilty.
Prosecutor Derek Hines offered a rebuttal to jurors, stating that prosecutors had proven Biden’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in multiple ways. He argued that someone who uses a crack pipe every 15 minutes knows they are an addict. Prosecutors rested their case after recalling a witness to the stand for brief rebuttal testimony. Despite requests from Biden’s lawyers, the judge denied changes to the proposed jury instructions, stating that certain arguments were not appropriate for her to convey to the jury.
The trial resumes as former President Donald Trump is expected to have a virtual interview in preparation for his sentencing next month in a separate criminal case. The high-profile nature of the trial and the involvement of the son of the current president have captured public attention. The jury will continue deliberations in the coming days as they work to reach a verdict in the case against Hunter Biden. The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for Biden and his family, as well as for the broader political landscape.
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