What to know about Hunter Biden’s criminal trial
- Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's only surviving son, faces three charges tied to the possession of a gun while using narcotics. He has pleaded not guilty.
- The jury heard testimony from Hallie Biden, the wife of Hunter Biden's late brother Beau Biden. Hallie and Hunter Biden were romantically involved after Beau's death, and she disposed of the gun at the heart of the case. She spoke about her own drug use, Hunter Biden's addiction and why she threw out his gun.
- Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell tried to poke holes in her testimony by pointing out that Hunter Biden lied to her about his whereabouts. He also grew frustrated after she repeatedly said she couldn't remember specific details from the time period around when she found the gun.
- Before Hallie Biden took the stand, the jury heard testimony from Gordon Cleveland, the man who sold him the gun at the heart of the case, this morning. Jurors also heard from Ed Banner, the man who testified he found found Hunter Biden's gun in the trash can outside the grocery store where Hallie Biden disposed of it, and Millard Greer, a former Delaware State Police lieutenant.
Prosecutors expect to rest their case by mid-morning tomorrow
After the jury was dismissed for the day, the government said it expects to rest by mid-morning tomorrow after bringing two additional witnesses: forensic chemist Dr. Jason Brewer and DEA Supervisory Special Agent Joshua Romig.
Hunter Biden's defense team said that after prosecution rests its case, the defense lawyers will decide whether to call their own chemist as an expert. If they do, they would use a longer break after the government rests to get that witness certified as an expert.
The chemist would be among the two to three witnesses the defense team expects to call to the witness stand before making a decision about the defendant’s own testimony.
Lowell said he expects the proceedings can be wrapped up by Monday.
Trial is wrapped for the day, two more witnesses tomorrow
Day 4 of Hunter Biden’s trial wrapped at 4:35 p.m. The final witness of the day was Ed Banner, the man who found Hunter Biden's gun in the trash can outside the grocery store where Hallie Biden disposed of it. We are expecting the government to rest tomorrow after calling two more witnesses.
Ed Banner testifies about finding Hunter Biden's gun in trash can
Ed Banner, the 80-year-old Navy veteran who testified he found Hunter Biden's gun in the trash after Hallie Biden tossed it, said he started digging for cans and bottles in trash cans as a hobby before he retired in 2006, adding that he would take the recyclables to New York to cash in.
Prosecutor Derek Hines asked Banner to review surveillance footage from the grocery store that showed him finding the gun in the trash can.
“That sure looks like me,” Banner said.
Banner testified that after finding the gun, he put it in a lunch box and brought it home where he didn’t look at it or touch it again until Millard Greer, a former Delaware State Police lieutenant, came to collect it.
Banner also testified that no one in his house uses cocaine — which is relevant due to cocaine residue that was found on Hunter Biden’s leather pouch where Hallie Biden had put the gun and ammo.
During cross-examination, Lowell asked Banner about how he transported the gun after he took it out of the trash can. Banner said he put the leather pouch in the General Motors lunch box and then “I might have put it in the bag with the cans.”
Prosecution calls man who found Hunter Biden's gun in the trash
The prosecution has called to the stand Edward Banner, the man who found Hunter Biden's gun in the trash after Hallie Biden tossed it.
Delaware police officer say a local man found Hunter Biden's gun while rummaging through trash
Greer, now a special investigator with the Delaware Department of Justice, testified about being assigned to investigate Hunter Biden’s “theft of a firearm” case in 2018. Greer went to the store, spoke with the manager and reviewed security footage, he said.
He said he obtained the gun through an elderly man who had a habit of rummaging through the trash looking for recyclables. He had found the gun and took Greer to his house to collect the weapon and leather pouch, which contained chapstick, the speed loader and box of ammo. There were 23 bullets in the box (which comes with 25), Greer said.
After collecting the gun, Greer took Biden’s gun back to the police station and logged it into evidence, where it remained until it was eventually transferred to federal custody.
After recovering the gun, Greer called Biden and asked him if he wanted to press charges for the theft of his firearm. Biden declined.
Former Delaware State Police lieutenant takes the stand
Millard Greer, a former Delaware State Police lieutenant, took the stand at 3:25 p.m.
Greer is expected to offer testimony about recovering Hunter Biden's gun, as well as ammunition, a speed loader and a brown leather pouch from a man who found them in a trash receptacle at Janssen’s Market.
Police officer questioned about investigating gun incident
Marley, the police officer, had the briefest of direct examinations by prosecutor Derek Hines — it took less than two minutes. Hines asked Marley about his experience in the force and his call to Janssen’s Market on Oct. 23.
Marley, who was in uniform as he testified, said he viewed security camera video, and was present for an interview with Hunter Biden but did not conduct the interview himself. Hunter Biden was voluntarily interviewed, as the victim in this case. “He was the victim the entire time,” Marley said of this incident, because he reported a “gun was removed from his vehicle.”
Marley then walked through the report that was prepared by his colleague. Marley discussed driving to StarQuest Shooters to get the firearm’s serial number, because Hunter did not have that number at top of mind.
In cross-examination by Abbe Lowell, the defense attorney attempted to show that Marley didn’t really know too much about this situation. “I don’t think I ever even saw Ms. Biden,” Marley said after being asked. He also said he never went into the back office, where Hallie Biden was sitting the entire time with a store employee.
Police officer takes the stand to testify about gun
Hallie Biden has finished her testimony. Next on the stand is Delaware State Police Senior Cpl. Joshua Marley. He is expected to testify about his response to an incident at Janssen’s Market, what Hunter Biden had admitted, and about evidence recovered. Hallie Biden threw out the handgun behind the grocery store, and it was later recovered by someone else.
Defense lawyer appears frustrated with Hallie Biden's memory
At one point, defense lawyer Abbe Lowell appeared to get frustrated with Hallie Biden’s memory and frequent answer of “I don’t recall.”
For example, when Lowell asked her if she remembered seeing him do drugs between Oct. 6 and 12, she answered, “I don’t know.”
“So there are just some things you remember and then many things you don’t,” Lowell said.
Defense dove into the tumultuous relationship between Hunter Biden and Hallie Biden
Following the gun incident their relationship was “more tense,” Hallie Biden said.
Lowell returned to a message that had been previously entered into evidence, underscoring that tension.
“The f---ing FBI Hallie. It’s hard to believe anyone is that stupid // so what’s my fault here Hallie that you speak of. Owning a gun that’s in a locked car hidden on another property? You say I invade your privacy. What more can I do than come back to you to try again. And you do this???? Who in their right mind would trust you would help me get sober?,” he wrote.
When Hunter Biden says “help me get sober” you have no way of knowing if he was referring to drugs or alcohol, Lowell asked. Correct, she responded.
Fast forwarding a few days, Lowell introduced a text from Hallie Biden that she sent to Hunter Biden on Oct. 27.
“Don’t come back to the house, obviously you have something in New York more important to you than me,” she wrote, in an apparent reference to Zoe Kestan.