Jury selection hurdles in Hunter Biden's gun trial as juror excused over friendship with late Beau Biden

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE: A jury has been selected in the trial against President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, mere days after former president Donald Trump faced felony charges for falsifying business records in the hush money trial.

The jurors were sworn in on Monday, June 3, at 4:20 pm. The final jury consists of Jurors 3, 5, 16, 19, 20, 26, 31, 33, 34, 37, 38, and 39.

The alternates are Jurors 50, 52, 53, and 65. The jury is composed of an equal number of six men and six women, while all four alternates are women, NBC News reported.

There were several obstacles in the Hunter Biden gun case jury selection. Here's on what basis jurors were selected.

On what basis jury for the Hunter Biden case selected?

The jury for Hunter Biden's case was selected based on a process that involved dismissing potential jurors with strong political views or connections to the Biden family, as well as those with firm opinions on gun ownership and the Justice Department.

The seated jurors include individuals with backgrounds in gun ownership and experiences with substance abuse, reflecting the nature of the charges against Hunter Biden.

Over 65 potential jurors were questioned, and by late Monday afternoon, 29 had been dismissed. One dismissed juror expressed uncertainty about her impartiality due to her preformed opinion of Hunter Biden from media coverage.

When queried by a lawyer about her view, she responded, "It's not a good one."

In Delaware, prospective jurors affirming certain questionnaire items were individually interviewed by Judge Maryellen Noreika to assess their impartiality. Their identities remained confidential.

The interrogation evaluated their case knowledge, opinions on gun ownership, and personal or familial struggles with substance abuse or addiction. Additional inquiries addressed the influence of politics on the charges.

A man was excused after disclosing his experience in gun sales and familiarity with the requisite paperwork. A woman was also excused due to her husband's friendship with Joe Biden's late son, Beau, and her favorable opinion of Hunter Biden.

A man was dismissed due to his family's extensive background in law enforcement, which he felt compromised his impartiality.

Another was excused for his deep familiarity with the case and his belief that politics heavily influences the charging process.

Only one potential juror proceeded to the next phase after answering "no" to all questions.

Meanwhile, a juror who was not dismissed disclosed his concealed carry permit and ownership of three handguns, expressing firm beliefs in gun ownership rights for all law-abiding citizens. "I believe the Second Amendment is very important," he explained, Business Standard reported.

Lawyers collectively agreed to dismiss a juror who voiced strong anti-gun opinions during the selection process.

What is Hunter Biden accused of?

Federal prosecutors have accused Hunter Biden of three offenses: two counts of making allegedly false statements during a gun purchase and one count of possessing a firearm while being addicted to drugs.

The charges stem from an incident in October 2018 when Hunter Biden acquired a Colt Cobra revolver from a Delaware gun store.

On the federal form required for the purchase, he falsely affirmed that he was not using or addicted to any illegal substances, despite battling a crack cocaine addiction at that time.

Hunter Biden is facing trial in Wilmington, Delaware, for three charges related to firearms, which have been filed by special counsel David Weiss, an appointee of former POTUS Trump.

Hunter Biden 'provided written statement certifying he was not an unlawful user of narcotic drug'

According to the indictment, Hunter Biden "provided a written statement on Form 4473 certifying he was not an unlawful user of, and addicted to, any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance" when, in reality, he knew that the statement was fictitious and false, CNN reported.

Hunter Biden has entered a not-guilty plea.

First Lady Jill Biden and Hunter's half-sister Ashley were among his support entourage on the first day.

Throughout the trial day, Hunter Biden remained engaged, often leaning forward with his elbows on the table, his chin or face resting on his clasped hands. His gaze alternated between the jurors and the judge, and he occasionally conversed with his defense lawyers, as NBC described.

Weiss entered the courtroom post the initial break and stayed till the conclusion. He adopted a relaxed posture in the front row behind the prosecutors, reclining against the wall, and alternately looking at the ceiling, the jury, or the media.