Judge Says They 'Lost' A Juror Overnight In Hunter Biden's Gun Trial

Hunter Biden, 54, is currently on trial after being indicted for allegedly lying on the paperwork required to purchase a Colt Cobra revolver in 2018. The four-page indictment accuses him of providing false information during the firearm transaction.

President Joe Biden's son has pleaded not guilty to the three charges against him despite being open about his struggles with alcohol and crack cocaine addiction.

Jury selection in Hunter Biden's trial was selected on Monday, however, the Judge has announced they "lost" one juror overnight.

The initial jury selection ended on Monday, with a total of 12 individuals, which include a substitute teacher, a former Secret Service employee, and multiple gun owners.

The jury also includes a woman who mentioned she has lost many friends to drug addiction, as well as gun owners, including one who believes that people who smoke marijuana should still be allowed to own firearms.

They were ordered back in court on Tuesday for opening statements.

According to ABC, Judge Maryellen Noreika took the bench this morning ahead of opening statements, telling the courthouse attended that they had "lost" one juror overnight.

"We lost a juror overnight," Judge Noreika said, noting that the individual "begged" to be released as they live far away and do not have reliable transportation. The individual said they could only attend on Monday because their father was off work. They claimed they did not know they were required to be in court daily.

After an hour delay, opening statements in Hunter Biden's trial began.

Opening statements began on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, with prosecutor Derek Hines telling the jury that "no one is above the law."

“We’re here because of the defendant’s lies and choices,” Hines said of Hunter Biden. “No one is above the law. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your name is.” He then claimed that the 54-year-old “chose to illegally own a firearm."

According to CNN, prosecutors showed a picture of the 54-year-old's Colt revolver during their opening statements, as well as images of the “hollow-point” ammunition that he bought that same day.

Hines also told the jury that the employee at the gun store who sold Hunter the gun is expected to testify about the form the President’s son filled out, where Hunter said he was not addicted to or using illegal drugs. However, the indictment claims, “when in fact, as he knew, that statement was false and fictitious."

“A gun salesman doesn’t have a crystal ball to determine what’s true or false,” Hines said as they showed the form to the jury. “He lied” on the ATF form, the prosecutor claimed.

This marks a historic moment for the United States and the presidency, as no President has ever faced the challenge of running the country while their child is on trial.

“For any parent to watch their child go through addiction and now face possible jail time, it’s harrowing," CNN presidential historian Douglas Brinkley said. "You would hope that family would be his comfort zone. But in this case, family is probably his biggest worry of the moment."

Hunter Biden's trial comes days after Donald Trump became the first President in history to become a convicted felon.

As these two trials have occurred days apart, many are trying to compare the two, but Democrats are dismissing it.

“Hunter Biden is not running for president. President Donald Trump's running for president," Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said, per CNN. “Democrats are not out there saying that Hunter Biden's trial is a farce, it's a fraud, it's rigged. We're not attacking the justice system."

“They do that because of the extraordinary cognitive dissonance that a party – which claims to be representing religious piety – has wrapped itself around in an adjudicated sexual assailant and fraudster who just got convicted by a jury of his peers for paying $130,000 in hush money to a porn star right after his fifth child was born," he added. "That's where their party is.”

Rep. Robert Garcia of California agreed. “He’s not the President of the United States, he’s not a public figure," he said.