Hunter Biden, the embattled son of President Joe Biden, went on trial Monday for gun charges in a landmark prosecution of a sitting president’s child, presenting a potential threat to his father’s reelection bid.
The 54-year-old Hunter Biden stands accused of lying about his illegal drug use while purchasing a handgun in 2018, a felony offense.
He arrived in court in his hometown of Wilmington, accompanied by family members, including First Lady Jill Biden, though the president was not present.
Jury selection began with the trial expected to last one to two weeks.
President Biden expressed his support for his son, stating, “As the President, I don’t and won’t comment on pending federal cases, but as a Dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength.”
The trial coincides with recent legal troubles for Donald Trump, the former president and current Republican candidate challenging Joe Biden.
Trump was found guilty of business fraud by a New York jury, marking the first criminal conviction of a former president.
He also faces three other criminal cases, including allegations of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Hunter Biden’s trial, coupled with a separate tax evasion case in California, presents a political distraction for Joe Biden as he seeks a second term.
It also reopens painful emotional wounds for the Biden family stemming from Hunter’s past struggles with addiction, a period that both he and his father have discussed publicly.
Hunter Biden’s brother Beau died of cancer in 2015, and his sister Naomi died as an infant in a 1972 car crash.
The Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist-turned-artist is charged with falsely stating on legal paperwork when buying a .38 caliber Colt Cobra revolver in 2018 that he was not using drugs illegally.
He is also charged with illegal possession of the firearm, which he had for just 11 days in October of that year.
Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty.
He had earlier reached a plea deal with prosecutors, but it collapsed, leading to the trial.
Prosecutors are expected to present extensive evidence related to Hunter Biden’s years of addiction, calling witnesses including three of his former partners, among them Lunden Roberts, the mother of one of his children.
Hunter Biden will argue that at the time he bought the revolver, he did not consider himself an addict.
He has maintained that he has been sober since 2019.
If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender, he might receive a lighter sentence or avoid jail time altogether.
He could also face fines of up to $750,000.
President Biden on Monday highlighted the broader significance of his son’s struggles, saying, “Hunter’s resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery are inspiring to us.
A lot of families have loved ones who have overcome addiction and know what we mean.”
Hunter Biden has long been a target for Trump and right-wing Republicans, who have leveraged exhaustive coverage on Fox News to amplify their attacks.
Leaked lurid photos from his time as an addict and extensive congressional investigations into allegations of corruption and influence-peddling have fueled these efforts, though no charges have resulted.
Hunter Biden’s private life and controversial business dealings in China and Ukraine have also been focal points for Republicans in Congress attempting to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Biden, efforts which have thus far been unsuccessful.
The White House stated last year that there would be no presidential pardon for Hunter Biden in the event of a conviction.
Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, a Biden ally, emphasized the importance of respecting the jury’s verdict, saying on CNN, “I think the president himself will respect the verdict – much as it is painful, I’m sure, to see one of your children on trial.”
