Hallie Biden, the widow of Hunter Biden’s brother Beau Biden, is testifying Thursday in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial, where she is expected to give testimony about allegedly discarding the firearm at the center of the case.
The prosecution called Hallie Biden to the stand shortly after 10 a.m., according to The Associated Press. Hallie Biden is considered to be the prosecution’s star witness, and her appearance on the stand followed Gordon Cleveland, who testified Wednesday that he sold Hunter Biden the firearm.
Hunter Biden has been charged with three felonies stemming from his alleged purchase of a revolver in October 2018. Two of the charges are related to accusations that he made false statements on a federal gun form about his drug use, certifying he was not a user of or addicted to any controlled substance during a period when prosecutors allege he was addicted to crack cocaine. The other charge is for allegedly owning the gun unlawfully. He was allegedly in possession of the gun for 11 days before Hallie Biden discarded the weapon.
Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Cleveland, the man who sold Hunter Biden the gun, testified on Wednesday that Hunter Biden did not seem confused by the form. Hunter Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell pressed Gordon on the condition of the form at the center of the case and the rules required for any changes made after submission.
Lowell said Tuesday in opening statements that many addicts are in “denial” about their drug use, indicating that his client did not intend to lie on the form. Prosecutor Derek Hines, meanwhile, in his opening statement noted that “addiction may not be a choice, but lying and buying a gun is a choice.”
Lowell sought earlier Wednesday to cast doubt on the authenticity of personal text messages allegedly taken from Hunter Biden’s personal devices. Under questioning from Lowell, FBI special agent Erika Jensen said she could not verify the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop admitted into evidence were not tampered with before law enforcement collected it from a repair shop.
On Wednesday, Hunter Biden’s ex-wife Kathleen Buhle and his former girlfriend Zoe Kestan testified about his drug use. Buhle testified that while they were still married she confronted Hunter Biden after she found a “crack pipe” and said that, although she never saw him use drugs, he confirmed his drug use to her.