Hunter Biden's legal maneuvers have taken a sharp turn this week.
Hunter Biden's lawyers filed and then promptly withdrew a motion seeking a new trial in his recent criminal conviction related to a 2018 firearm purchase.
According to Fox News, Hunter Biden, represented by his attorney, Abbe Lowell, initially pushed for a retrial on Monday. The motion was lodged in a Delaware federal court, arguing that ongoing appeals compromised the jurisdiction of the recent trial.
Legal strategy unfolds in Delaware Court
The trial brought to light that Hunter Biden had given a negative response on a form regarding substance abuse while purchasing a firearm from a store in Wilmington, Delaware. He was charged with making false statements and illegal possession of the weapon due to his drug use history.
"The Third Circuit [appeals court], however, did not then and has not yet issued its mandate as to the orders dismissing either appeal," Lowell stated in the filing. "Thus, when this Court empaneled the jury on June 3, 2024, and proceeded to trial, it was without jurisdiction to do so."
In response to this action, a document notice quickly signaled the withdrawal of the motion from the court's electronic filing system. "The Motion for a New Trial (formerly DI 233) has been deleted at the request of counsel," read a posted note, marking an abrupt halt to this legal tactic.
The backdrop of the gun purchase incident
Hunter Biden was found guilty last Tuesday. His charges centered on falsehoods during the gun purchase in October 2018, as well as possession of a gun by someone deemed an unlawful substance user or addict.
A jury deliberated for just three hours over two days before declaring Biden guilty on all counts. His sentencing will occur later this year, although a specific date for this has not been set.
Biden now faces potential severe penalties—a maximum of 25 years in prison for the combined counts, though his status as a first-time offender provides some hope for leniency.
Hunter Biden's battle with substance abuse
In 2021, Hunter Biden published "Beautiful Things," a memoir that sheds light on his intense struggle with crack cocaine addiction—detailing periods when he smoked every 20 minutes and interactions that dubbed him a "crack daddy" among dealers.
Despite the intense public and legal scrutiny, he has received measurable support, as seen in the crowds surrounding him and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, as they attended the trial proceedings in Wilmington.
In court, Biden has presented himself grounded and accompanied by family, contrasting the turbulent persona detailed in his memoir and by the prosecution's accounts during the trial.
Conclusion
Hunter Biden's recent legal saga over his 2018 firearm purchase has taken complex turns, from a guilty verdict on all charges to a brief flare of contestation through a motion for a retrial, which was as quickly withdrawn as it was filed. His historical substance battles were center stage, juxtaposed by legal arguments over his mental state during the gun purchase. As the sentencing phase approaches, all eyes will remain on how this high-profile case concludes amidst broader discussions on justice and accountability.
