Where is President Biden today?
Biden continues his trip in France after yesterday's D-Day commemoration events.
Notably, he held a meeting this morning with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Biden is expected to deliver remarks later in the day honoring the legacy of Pointe du Hoc, where U.S. Army Rangers scaled the cliffs during the U.S. invasion to take out German artillery.
First lady Jill Biden arrives at court
First lady Jill Biden arrived at the courthouse at 8:50 a.m. She missed court yesterday because she attended the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France, yesterday with the president.
Hunter Biden arrives at court
Hunter Biden arrived at court at 8:39 a.m. His defense team is expected to begin calling witnesses today.
President Joe Biden says he will not pardon his son if he’s convicted on gun-related charges
President Joe Biden told ABC News in an interview yesterday that he will accept whatever a jury decides in Hunter Biden‘s criminal trial and that he will not use his presidential power to pardon his son if he’s convicted.
Biden made his brief statements on his son’s historic trial in an interview with ABC News anchor David Muir in Normandy, where the president and other dignitaries were taking part in a service to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a turning point for the Allied forces in World War II.
Asked if he would rule out a pardon for his son, who’s facing three federal gun-related charges in court in Delaware, Biden answered simply, “Yes.” Asked if he would accept the outcome of the jury trial, a first for an offspring of a sitting president, he again replied, “Yes.”
Defense expected to call Hunter Biden's uncle and daughter as witnesses
It’s Day 5 of the trial, and we expect prosecutors to rest their case by midmorning. After that, we expect an extended break, followed by the defense presenting its case. We don’t yet know if Hunter Biden will testify in his own defense.
Biden's lawyer Abbe Lowell said last night that he expects to call two to three more witnesses, although that could change based on the prosecution’s witnesses today.
Close observers of the trial might remember that in opening statements, Lowell said, “Jimmy Biden will explain why he is so close to Hunter.” That hasn’t happened yet, so we should expect to see testimony from James Biden, who is President Joe Biden’s brother, in some form in the coming days.
On Tuesday, Lowell also said Naomi Biden, Hunter Biden's daughter, is on the witness list.
The jury in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial heard dramatic testimony from Hallie Biden yesterday. She’s the wife of the late Beau Biden and Hunter’s former romantic partner. Hallie Biden detailed Hunter’s drug addiction, as he faces criminal charges for allegedly lying on a background check about his drug use in order to purchase a gun. NBC News’ Ryan Nobles reports
What to expect today
Prosecutors are expected to bring two more witnesses to the stand: forensic chemist Jason Brewer and Drug Enforcement Agency supervisory special agent Joshua Romig.
Brewer is expected to testify about his analysis of the residue on a brown leather pouch Hunter Biden had used to hold his gun and his opinion that, based on his testing and examination of the evidence, the residue was cocaine.
Romig is expected to offer opinions, based on his training and experience, about coded messages Hunter Biden sent and other information.
Prosecutors could rest their case as early as midmorning. From there, the defense team can call witnesses.
Here's what you missed yesterday at trial
The late Beau Biden's wife, Hallie Biden, who had a romantic relationship with Hunter Biden after Beau’s death, took the stand yesterday and testified about why she threw away Hunter's gun, as well as details about her drug use and Hunter's addiction.
Earlier in the day, jurors heard from the man who sold Hunter the gun, the man who found the gun in a trash can after Hallie threw it out, and a former Delaware State Police lieutenant.