Here are the key witnesses and players in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE: The long-awaited federal gun case against Hunter Biden began with jury selection on Monday, June 3, in Delaware.
The case marks a historic moment as Hunter Biden, the youngest son of President Joe Biden, becomes the first son of a sitting president to face a criminal trial.
The proceedings are expected to last between three to six days and will likely influence the upcoming election, with Republicans aiming to leverage the situation politically.
A jury of 12, along with four alternates, was seated by Monday afternoon. Biden is charged with three criminal counts related to his purchase of a gun while failing to disclose his drug addiction.
Despite the charges, Biden pleaded not guilty to all three counts. First lady Jill Biden joined him in the courtroom, US News reported.
Background of Hunter Biden
Hunter Biden, born in 1970, is the surviving son of President Joe Biden and his first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden. Hunter's professional background includes working as a lawyer and lobbyist, and he is perhaps best known for his controversial tenure on the executive board of Burisma Holdings Ltd, a Ukrainian energy company.
His life has been marred by struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction, which he has openly discussed, labeling himself a "functioning alcoholic" shortly after his law school graduation.
Substance Abuse Issues of Hunter Biden
Hunter’s substance abuse issues intensified following the death of his older brother, Beau Biden, in 2015. His dependency extended to crack cocaine, culminating in a turbulent period in 2018.
During this time, an IRS criminal investigator initiated a probe into his finances. Shortly thereafter, the FBI found evidence suggesting he had purchased a firearm while addicted to drugs.
In December 2023, Hunter’s lawyers announced a plea deal to resolve the investigation. The deal proposed that Hunter would plead guilty to tax violations and enter a diversion program for the gun charge, which would prevent further prosecution and potential jail time. However, the deal fell apart within a month.
Attorney General Merrick Garland then appointed David Weiss, the US Attorney for the District of Delaware, as special counsel. This appointment gave Weiss enhanced authority over the investigation and the ultimate decision on filing charges.
Consequently, the gun charges were formally brought against Biden in September, followed by separate tax crime charges in California scheduled for trial in September.
Key witnesses and players in Hunter Biden's trial
Hallie Biden
Hallie Biden, the widow of Hunter's older brother, Beau, is a pivotal witness in the case. She was married to Beau in 2002, and they had two children together. After Beau's death in 2015, Hallie began a relationship with Hunter, attracting media scrutiny.
According to the prosecution, Hallie will testify about Hunter's stay at her home in the fall of 2018, during which she and her children allegedly found drugs and drug paraphernalia in his possession multiple times. Her discovery of the Colt Cobra .38 handgun, central to the case, is also critical.
Hallie reportedly disposed of the gun in a grocery store trash can, initiating the chain of events leading to the trial. Federal prosecutors will present panicked text exchanges between Hallie and Hunter as key evidence.
Kathleen Buhle
Kathleen Buhle, Hunter's former wife, is another significant witness. Married to Hunter from 1993 to 2017, they share three daughters. Prosecutors allege that in 2018, Buhle frequently searched Hunter's car, discovering drugs and paraphernalia approximately 12 times.
Her testimony will likely highlight the impact of Hunter’s addiction on their family, details she has previously shared in her 2022 memoir, "If We Break: A Memoir of Marriage, Addiction, and Healing."
Zoe Kestan
Zoe Kestan, a lingerie and textile designer and Hunter's ex-girlfriend during the period in question, is identified as Witness 2. According to prosecutors, Kestan observed Hunter using crack cocaine every 20 minutes, except when he slept.
She testified before a grand jury in February 2022 about their nights in luxury hotels and provided information pertinent to the Justice Department’s investigation into Hunter’s taxes.
Judge Maryellen Noreika
Judge Maryellen Noreika, appointed by former President Donald Trump in 2017, presides over Hunter Biden’s case. Confirmed in August 2018, Noreika previously oversaw the failed plea deal negotiations.
She has experience with other cases involving Hunter, notably dismissing parts of a defamation lawsuit related to a Delaware-based computer repair shop where Hunter allegedly left a laptop in 2019.
Abbe Lowell
Abbe Lowell is Hunter Biden's lead attorney, serving as a partner and co-chairperson for government investigations at Winston and Strawn LLP. Joining Hunter's legal team in December 2022, Lowell has been instrumental in addressing claims that Hunter sold access to his father.
His notable past clients include high-profile political figures like Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner during the Mueller investigation, as well as Democrats during President Bill Clinton's impeachment.
Derek Hines
Derek Hines, an assistant US attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, is working alongside Weiss on the case. With over seven years at the Justice Department, Hines has expertise in white-collar crime and high-profile prosecutions. His previous collaboration with Weiss in Maryland underscores his significant role in the current trial.
Leo Wise
Leo Wise, a trial attorney for the Department of Justice, is another key figure working with Weiss. He was involved in negotiating the initial plea deal with Hunter’s legal team and was present when it collapsed. Wise’s extensive career includes focusing on fraud cases, with experience in high-profile prosecutions like the mortgage fraud and perjury case against former Maryland State’s attorney Marilyn Mosby.
