(Rightallegiance.com) – In a tense courtroom in Wilmington, Delaware, Hunter Biden’s ex-wife and a former girlfriend testified on Wednesday about finding his crack pipes and other drug paraphernalia. The trial focuses on whether Hunter Biden lied on a 2018 gun purchase form when he claimed he wasn’t using drugs. This case has become a deeply personal account of his struggles with addiction, drawing significant public and political attention.
Testimonies and Evidence Unveiled
Kathleen Buhle, who was married to Hunter Biden for 20 years, testified that she discovered his drug use on July 3, 2015, when she found a crack pipe in an ashtray on their porch. “He acknowledged smoking crack,” she said. The trial, which explores whether Hunter Biden lied on a gun purchase form in 2018, has delved into his personal life, with the courtroom witnessing photos of him bare-chested in a bubble bath and hearing about his visit to a strip club.
The trial has significant implications as the 2024 election approaches, with concerns about the impact on President Joe Biden. Prosecutors argue that the evidence is necessary to demonstrate Hunter Biden’s state of mind when he purchased the gun. Hunter Biden faces three felony charges from the October 2018 gun purchase, including lying to a federally licensed gun dealer and illegally possessing the gun for 11 days.
Jurors and Key Witnesses
Jurors have seen the gun and the form involved in the case. Gordon Cleveland, the clerk who sold the gun, testified that Hunter Biden filled out the form himself and answered “no” to a question about drug use. Prosecutors emphasize Hunter Biden’s habitual drug use, noting his discharge from the Navy after testing positive for cocaine. Buhle, who has three children with Hunter, detailed her suspicions and actions to protect their children from his drug use.
Zoe Kestan, a former girlfriend, testified under immunity about meeting Hunter Biden in December 2017 at a strip club, where he smoked what she believed was crack. She recounted several instances of his drug use and storage of paraphernalia. However, Kestan admitted she had no contact with him during the period when he bought the gun.
Memoir and Personal Messages
Jurors reviewed pages from Hunter Biden’s 2021 memoir, “Beautiful Things,” which chronicles his addiction following his brother Beau’s death. The memoir covers the period of the gun purchase but does not mention the weapon. Defense attorney Abbe Lowell argued that Hunter Biden’s state of mind differed when he bought the gun, suggesting he might have believed he had a drinking problem rather than a drug problem at the time.
The trial follows the collapse of a plea deal that would have resolved this case and a separate tax case. Hunter Biden, now facing a trial in September for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes, has pleaded not guilty and claims he is unfairly targeted by the Justice Department.
Political and Personal Repercussions
The trial also intersects with political investigations, as Republicans have pursued an impeachment inquiry tying President Biden to his son’s business dealings, although no direct evidence has implicated the president. Hunter Biden’s personal messages from a laptop left at a repair shop have been used as evidence, revealing intimate details about his life and work.
Testimonies from family members, including James Biden and Hallie Biden, are expected. Hallie Biden, who had a brief relationship with Hunter after Beau’s death, testified about disposing of the gun out of fear. First Lady Jill Biden attended the trial, showing support for Hunter ahead of her trip to France.
If convicted, Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison, although first-time offenders rarely receive the maximum sentence. The trial’s timing, close to Donald Trump’s recent conviction on unrelated charges, highlights the significant role of the courts in the 2024 campaign.