Hunter Biden appeared in court on Friday in Wilmington, Delaware, facing federal gun charges. His defense attorneys have filed motions to prevent prosecutors from presenting certain personal details to the jury, aiming to avoid “significant risk of unfair prejudice.”
In a motion in limine filed Friday morning, Biden requested the court to exclude references to his child support proceedings in Arkansas and his discharge from the Navy. The child support case involves his daughter with Lunden Roberts, a woman with whom he had an out-of-wedlock child. Biden’s defense acknowledges that some evidence, such as alleged drug purchases, ATM withdrawals, and the purchase of the revolver in question, might be relevant. However, they argue that details about money spent on “adult entertainment, online chat rooms, or escort services” are irrelevant to the charges.
U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, during the pre-trial conference, ruled on several key issues that will shape the upcoming trial, set to begin on June 3. Judge Noreika allowed some contents from a laptop, which Hunter Biden left at a Delaware repair shop, to be used as evidence. This includes evidence about his drug use, provided prosecutors can show he was using or addicted to drugs around the time he purchased the gun in 2018. The defense had argued that proof of drug use should be required specifically on the day of the gun purchase, but the judge rejected this narrower criterion.
The laptop in question became public in 2019 when a computer repair shop owner provided it to the FBI and shared its data with former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Hunter Biden has since sued Giuliani, alleging that the data was hacked and manipulated. This lawsuit remains unresolved.
Judge Noreika also ruled in favor of Hunter Biden on several points, blocking prosecutors from mentioning his tax case in California, his child support case in Arkansas, or his discharge from the Navy. Prosecutors are further barred from discussing Biden’s “extravagant lifestyle” but may introduce evidence about how he financed his drug purchases.
Special counsel David Weiss has charged Hunter Biden with unlawfully purchasing and possessing a Colt Cobra 388PL revolver for 11 days in 2018 and making false statements on a federal form, claiming he was not an unlawful drug user. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
As the trial approaches, both sides are preparing to argue over what evidence is admissible and relevant to the case. The prosecution aims to prove that Hunter Biden was using or addicted to drugs at the time of the gun purchase, while the defense seeks to limit the scope of evidence to avoid undue prejudice.
The legal battle over what evidence will be presented is critical, as it will shape the narrative the jury hears. Hunter Biden’s case continues to draw significant public and media attention, given his high-profile family connections and the broader political implications.
As this high-stakes trial unfolds, the court’s decisions on evidence will play a crucial role in determining the outcome and the extent of Hunter Biden’s legal jeopardy.
