(NewsWorthy.news) – The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to cease the federal gun trial of President Joe Biden’s son Hunter, which is due to start in June 2024.
The appeals court declined the request to pause the case while Hunter’s defense team challenges the prosecution’s claims. His bid to have the case relating to felony gun charges thrown out was denied by a federal judge in Delaware on May 2. Hunter’s defense attorneys claimed there was no urgent need to proceed with the trial on June 3. The defense attorneys also took issue with the trial being so close to the beginning of another trial for alleged tax evasion in California that is due to start in the same month.
The president’s son pleaded not guilty to violating gun laws by lying about drug use on a form used to purchase a firearm in October 2018. Hunter kept the gun for roughly 11 days in the state, and though he has admitted to a crack cocaine addiction during the period, his lawyers claim he did not break the law. Special Counsel David Weiss claims otherwise and argues that he was a regular user of the drug at the time and broke the law when he purchased the gun.
Though Joe Biden’s gun control policies include opting to ban high capacity magazines and assault rifles and carry out background checks for gun purchases, Hunter’s defense attorneys argued that the charges violated his Second Amendment rights. Though she acknowledged some exceptional cases such as those involving marijuana users, Judge Maryellen Noreika concluded that the law against drug users acquiring firearms was still valid and stressed that the vast majority of district courts would consider it constitutional. The defense attorneys are also appealing Noreika’s decision.
The probe into Hunter’s ownership of the firearm was ready to conclude with a plea deal in 2023, but the agreement was scrapped after a judge raised concerns. Weiss then indicted Biden in both California and Delaware over the tax- and gun-related charges. The president’s son is separately appealing decisions to throw out his motions to dismiss the charges that accuse him of failing to pay over $1.4 million in taxes over three years.
Copyright 2024, NewsWorthy.news
