Hunter Biden's Criminal Trial Kicks Off in Delaware: Here's What to Know About the Federal Gun Charges

Hunter Biden's federal criminal trial begins in Delaware on Monday, June 3, less than one week after Donald Trump became the first U.S. president convicted of crimes.

The president's son, 54, was indicted by his father's Department of Justice in September. He is charged with three felony counts related to his purchase and brief possession of a firearm in 2018, while he was allegedly using illicit drugs.

A child of a sitting American president has never faced a criminal trial before — a milestone made more dramatic in the context of federal charges.

Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss began investigating Hunter in 2018, during Trump's presidency. Weiss was asked to continue the investigation after Joe Biden was elected, and in August 2023, Attorney General Merrick Garland boosted Weiss to special counsel status.

In September, a federal grand jury in Wilmington, Del., approved a three-count indictment against Hunter related to his possession of a firearm.

Two counts allege that Hunter lied on forms in order to obtain a revolver in 2018, by stating that he wasn't using illegal drugs at the time. A third count alleges that Hunter, who has been open about his addiction issues, possessed the revolver while using a narcotic.

According to the indictment, Hunter owned the gun for 11 days before his girlfriend threw it in a dumpster, citing concerns about his mental health.

Trump-appointed District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who is presiding over Hunter's case, summoned 250 Delaware residents to report for jury duty on Monday. In the end, 12 of them will be seated on the jury and four will be selected as alternates.

The trial is expected to last one to two weeks, and if jurors ultimately convict Hunter, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

Hunter also faces nine federal tax charges related to alleged tax evasion, which could result in a 17-year prison sentence if he's convicted. A trial for the tax case is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles this fall.