The federal judge overseeing Hunter Biden’s gun trial made significant decisions on the eve of jury selection that could impact the case's outcome. Judge Maryellen Noreika handed two setbacks to Hunter Biden's defense, blocking an expert witness and excluding a crucial piece of evidence.
One ruling involved blocking Hunter Biden's expert witness, a psychiatrist from Columbia University, who aimed to challenge the prosecution's claim that Biden was aware of his addiction when he purchased the gun in 2018. Judge Noreika sided with special counsel David Weiss, citing inadequate disclosure of the witness's opinions.
Additionally, the judge barred the use of an altered version of the federal firearms form filled out by Hunter Biden during the gun purchase. The defense sought to use the modified form to question the credibility of gun store employees set to testify for the prosecution and alleged political bias. However, Judge Noreika deemed the altered form irrelevant and inadmissible, criticizing the defense for promoting conspiratorial theories.
Only the original ATF Form 4473, where Hunter Biden allegedly falsely denied drug use, will be presented to the jury. Prosecutors maintain that Biden was addicted to crack cocaine at the time of the gun purchase, as detailed in his memoir.
The rulings by Judge Noreika could pose challenges for Hunter Biden in the trial, which is set to commence with jury selection in Wilmington. The decisions limit the defense's strategies and may impact the overall case dynamics as proceedings unfold.
