Hunter Biden's Lawyer Calls for Testimony from President's Brother

On the second day of Hunter Biden's trial, the prosecution presented him as a drug addict whose addiction has affected his loved ones. The prosecution stated that Hunter Biden was fully aware of his addiction when filling out a federal questionnaire required for purchasing a handgun in 2018, and by concealing his addiction, he violated federal laws. Meanwhile, Hunter Biden's lawyer announced that he would summon the defendant's uncle, James Biden, the brother of the President of the United States, to testify in court. James Biden has a very close relationship with his nephew and has helped him in recent years to overcome his addiction. Hunter Biden has been charged with three crimes, the main subject of which is purchasing a firearm while still being addicted. These crimes include lying to a legal gun seller, providing false information on a questionnaire aimed at concealing his addiction, and possessing a firearm that was illegally purchased for 11 days. In his opening statements to the jury, the prosecutor argued that Hunter Biden was undoubtedly addicted when he purchased the firearm, as he had told his brother's wife just days after that he was waiting for a drug dealer. Derek Hines, the prosecutor in this case, added, 'No one, not even Hunter Biden, can lie on a federal questionnaire like this. He committed a crime by lying about the background check, which is a crucial requirement for purchasing a firearm, and this is the subject of the trial.' The prosecutor added that addiction brings depression, but the trial is not about Hunter Biden's addiction. Hunter Biden has denied these crimes and last year, attempts for an out-of-court settlement between the prosecution and the defendant, which could have prevented this trial, were unsuccessful. He claims that Republicans viewed the out-of-court settlement as giving a pass to the President's son from the rival party and prevented this agreement through political pressure. Jill Biden, the First Lady and wife of the President, and Ashley Biden, Hunter's half-sister, were also present in court today. The jury selection process, despite some jurors being dismissed due to personal connections with the Biden family or having positive or negative views about the Biden family, took only one day in total. Hunter Biden is also facing charges in another case in California for failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. A draft agreement reached in July last year between the defendant's lawyers and the prosecution was rejected by Mariela Norika, the judge in this case, who was appointed by Donald Trump. The judge found that the acceptance of the tax evasion crime by the defendant was not sufficient to dismiss this part of the indictment, and the condition of two years of abstinence from drug use for the dismissal of the offense when purchasing a firearm was also deemed unreasonable. Following the failure to reach an out-of-court agreement, Merrick Garland, the U.S. Attorney General, appointed David Weiss, a senior investigator from the Department of Justice and former Attorney General of Delaware, as the special prosecutor for this case in August last year. A month later, the special prosecutor filed charges against Hunter Biden. As the second day of Hunter Biden's trial began, the U.S. Attorney General was testifying at a House Judiciary Committee session in Washington. This committee, controlled by Republicans, has long been investigating Joe Biden and his family, and the committee chair is a staunch advocate for investigations related to the impeachment of Joe Biden based on his son's economic activities abroad, which have so far yielded no results and have been halted. Hunter Biden's trial in Delaware is not related to his economic activities but will certainly serve as a reminder of painful memories for the President's son. Allies and close associates of the President of the United States are concerned about the impact of this trial on Mr. Biden's status, who has been worried about his son's addiction for years, and in recent years, his son's mistakes have become public and scrutinized. The White House spokesperson said on Tuesday in response to reporters' questions about the negative impact of Hunter Biden's trial on presidential duties: 'It will have no impact whatsoever. For Mr. Biden, the priority has always been the American people, and he is capable of performing his duties well.' Mr. Biden is traveling to France on Tuesday evening and will not be in the U.S. for the remainder of the week. The First Lady is expected to join him on this trip in the coming days.