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WILMINGTON, Del. — Hunter Biden’s fate will come down to a 12-member jury comprised of locals.

Only one of them needs to be sympathetic — and believe there is reasonable doubt that President Biden’s son lied about his drug addiction when applying for a federal gun license — for him to get off on the three counts he is facing involving his purchase of a .38 caliber revolver.

But if they all find him guilty, the Biden scion, 54, will make history as the first son of a sitting US president to be criminally convicted while his father is still in office.


  Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to allegedly lying about being drug-addicted when applying for a firearm. AP Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to allegedly lying about being drug-addicted when applying for a firearm. AP

The prosecution rested its case against Hunter on Friday, and the defense could still call more witnesses Monday before closing arguments are heard from both sides.

If convicted, Hunter would face a maximum of up to 25 years behind bars, although possible first-time offenders such as himself don’t get that amount, and the judge could decide not to give him any jail time at all.

The jurors, dressed in modest civilian clothing and largely hailing from the middle class, have made a sharp courtroom juxtaposition with Hunter’s family and posse, some of whom hail from wealthy families and have typically donned snappy business suits and designer clothing throughout the trial.

As is commonplace for cases of this nature, the judge, defense and prosecution quizzed about 65 individuals to establish a pool of about 36 jurors that they could then whittled down to a panel of 12 with four alternates.

Hunter’s team was allotted 10 strikes and the government six from the main jury, and both sides each got two strikes for the alternates.


  Prosecutors Derek Hines and Leo Wise have been arguing the case against the first son. AP Prosecutors Derek Hines and Leo Wise have been arguing the case against the first son. AP

On the second day of trial, federal Judge Maryellen Noreika announced that one of the panelists, Juror No. 3, opted out due to transportation issues. As a result, an alternate has taken that spot, although it’s not fully clear who.

A common theme that emerged during jury selection was that a large percentage of the potential panelists had loved ones in their lives who struggled with addiction.

Here is what we know about the jurors who will decide Hunter’s fate:

Juror 1

Description: Blond white woman.

-Watches “CBS Evening News.”

-Sister was arrested for credit card fraud and drug charges, then convicted “probably 10 years ago” and spent time in prison.

Juror 2

Description: Gray-haired white woman.

-Previously worked in Washington, DC, for the Secret Service as a contract negotiator.

-Her husband used to work for the Secret Service as well.

-She retired about 12 years ago, and her husband is retired as well.

-Her husband owns a handgun. She claimed to not know much about the paperwork needed to purchase a firearm.

Follow the latest on Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial:

Juror 3

Description: Black woman.

-Vaguely knew there was a case happening involving Hunter. Didn’t know specifics.

-Gets most of her news from YouTube.

-Her mother purchased a firearm, but she didn’t know which kind and wasn’t familiar with the paperwork process.


  Hunter’s stepmom, first lady Jill biden, arrive at court for opening statements in his trial last week. Getty Images Hunter’s stepmom, first lady Jill biden, arrive at court for opening statements in his trial last week. Getty Images

Juror 4

Description: Black woman.

-Believes that people who smoke weed should be allowed to purchase a gun but was adamant that she could put that aside and be impartial.

-Both her father and brother bought a firearm, but she’s not familiar with the purchasing process. Her father has a single gun, and her brother has multiple.

-She previously served on a jury about 20 years ago on an assault case and then another one last year involving a firearm.

Juror 5

Description: Black man.

-Recent college graduate who currently works Tuesdays and weekends. He had an interview scheduled around the time the trial commenced.

-Knows several people who owned handguns, but he did not and wasn’t familiar with the gun purchasing process.

-Believes that the Justice Department has sometimes targeted people for political reasons and cited the civil rights movement as an example.

Juror 6

Description: Black man.

-Follows CNN and NBC.

-Did not know many specifics about the Hunter case and only heard about the story vaguely.

-Has a concealed carry permit for Delaware and out-of-state in Florida. Went through training to obtain that.

-Owns three pistols and had others in the past. Estimated that he owned about six guns in his lifetime.

-He uses guns for his personal protection and has strong views on guns — professed a belief in the Second Amendment and that gun owners should follow the law.

Juror 7

Description: White man with glasses.

-Father suffered from substance-abuse problems and owned guns.

-Was asked very few questions by the judge.

Juror 8

Description: Black man with glasses.

-Father killed in 2004 crime.

-Brother arrested for a crime around 2015 that involved a gun.

-He majored in forensics biology and has experience with lab work. He sought to work for the state of Delaware to help the police.

-His half-sister works for the New York Police Department, but he doesn’t talk to her much.


  Hunter faces up to 25 years behind bars if convicted, although potential first-time offenders such as himself don’t get that amount. AP Hunter faces up to 25 years behind bars if convicted, although potential first-time offenders such as himself don’t get that amount. AP

Juror 9

Description: Black woman.

-Home burglarized more than 10 years ago.

-Purchased a gun and had to fill out the paperwork for a background check but believes she can be impartial. She noted that the store workers helped her fill it out.

-She was a juror about 20 years ago in a Philadelphia case that involved drugs and firearms. She deliberated on that case, and the defendant was found guilty.

Juror 10

Description: White, baldish man.

-Recalled briefly chatting with someone, likely his brother, about the Hunter case and knew it was related to drugs and guns. He told that person not to say much because he had jury duty.

-Insisted he didn’t know much about the case or have views on it.

-He has family members who own guns.

-A brother-in-law and another loved one in his life struggled with addiction. Both passed away.

Juror 11

Description: White woman

-Family owns guns for hunting, but she does not.

-While she doesn’t struggle with drugs personally, her childhood best friend died of an overdose, and had struggled with it for some time.

Juror 12

Description: Black man.

-His older brother was addicted to PCP as well as heroin and was admitted to rehab multiple times. While he wasn’t 100%, he believes his brother will check back into rehab soon.

-He claimed his older brother owned a firearm but wasn’t sure whether it was prior to drug use.

-Believes that drug users shouldn’t own firearms, though he later added that individuals who were previously drug users shouldn’t be blocked. He had similar views about alcohol as well.


  David Weiss is the special counsel overseeing the Justice Department’s investigation into Hunter Biden, which also includes a tax evasion indictment. AP David Weiss is the special counsel overseeing the Justice Department’s investigation into Hunter Biden, which also includes a tax evasion indictment. AP

Alternate 1

Description: Black woman.

-Vaguely heard about the case.

-Brother is a retired police officer.

-Donated to her brother’s bid for the state legislature.

-She previously served on a jury in Delaware for an auto lawsuit, but the plaintiffs lost the case.

Alternate 2

Description: White woman with glasses.

-Has two small school-aged children, and there were some concerns about scheduling.

-Saw headlines about the Hunter case in passing but wasn’t familiar with the facts of the case.

-Father-in-law is an air-traffic controller at Dover Air Force Base, therefore had some logistical communication with the Secret Service.

-She personally wants guns to be more restricted in the US to curb mass shootings in schools, but she said she can put those beliefs aside.

-She says she largely tunes out the news, but Facebook had been her top source.

Alternate 3

Description: Young white woman.

-She only heard about the Hunter case in passing and doesn’t have opinions on it. Her father told her that jury duty was likely related to Hunter.

-Her grandfather owned firearms, and her uncle was a state trooper.

-She has friends and family members who have suffered from alcohol or drug problems. This includes an uncle who went to jail for being a drug addict.

Alternate 4

Description: Black woman.

-Took a little while to disclose that she made a political donation to former President Obama a long time ago.

-She was adamant that she could be impartial in the case.

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