(News Nation) — Jury selection in the federal firearms trial of President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, is scheduled to begin Monday in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware.
Biden is accused of making false statements on federal paperwork when he bought a .38-caliber Colt Cobra Special in 2018. He falsely represented he was not a drug user, even though he was addicted to cocaine at the time.
“I don’t think he’s going to prison, just like I don’t think Trump is going to prison for the New York incident,” the former assistant U.S. attorney said. David Katz.
“This all happened a long time ago. It was a non-violent act. The gun was never used in a violent or inappropriate manner. It was thrown away less than two weeks after it was purchased,” Katz told NewsNation.
The trial began nearly a year after U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika expressed concerns about a plea deal that spared Hunter Biden prison time.
Katz believes Hunter Biden will be found guilty because the facts of the case are undisputed, but he also predicts the defense will argue about the word “addict.”
“He would argue that it’s too vague and speculative. People don’t define themselves as ‘addicts.'”
While the facts may be indisputable, Hunter Biden’s lawyers say the political aspects of the case cannot be ignored.
“He is being punished for the crimes his father allegedly committed – opposing the election of President Trump,” said the court documents filed by Lowell, who also represents the former president’s daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Lead prosecutor David Weiss has said there are no “political considerations” involved in the investigation. He told lawmakers privately last year that no one at the Justice Department blocked the prosecution.
Katz said that even if convicted, Hunter Biden is unlikely to face prison time because it is a first offense and not because he is the son of a sitting president.
Katz also said he wouldn’t be surprised if Joe Biden were to pardon or commute his son’s sentence if he were re-elected. Katz said he has no doubt Donald Trump would do the same if one of his sons were in that position.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles I plan on heading west in September. He faces trial in Los Angeles on charges of failing to pay about $1.4 million in federal income taxes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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