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Jury selection begins in Hunter Biden’s gun trial
Good morning, US policy readers. Hunter Biden will be tried today in Wilmington, Delaware, on gun charges in a case that could embarrass his father, joe biden, and give a political weapon to Republicans desperate for a distraction in the wake of Donald Trumpa 34-count conviction in the New York money laundering case last week.
Prosecutors say Biden lied about his drug use on application forms when he bought a gun in 2018. He has pleaded not guilty. In theory, he could receive a heavy prison sentence, but this is considered highly unlikely. He has long struggled with addiction issues and a troubled personal life.
The trial, which will be overseen by a US district judge Marielen Noreika, expected to last up to about two weeks. Jury selection is scheduled to begin around 8:30 a.m. ET today, and the president’s son will have to be in court every day of the trial on the gun charges.
Here’s what else is happening today:
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The House and Senate are in and voting tonight.
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At 10 a.m. ET, the former government scientist Dr. Anthony Fauci will appear before the Republican-led House Select Subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic.
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The House will consider punitive legislation international criminal court if he goes ahead with the arrest warrants for the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other Israeli officials.
Key events
Anthony Fauci will testify on the origins of Covid-19
Anthony Fauci, who was previously the top public health official leading the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic, will appear before a congressional committee for the first time since his retirement in December 2022.
Fauci testified before the Republican-led House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic about the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the origins of the virus.
We will bring you the latest updates as they come.
Ramon Antonio Vargas
Democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was one of a handful of members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were arrested in Washington in the summer of 2021 as they protested the delay in passing legislation to protect voting rights.
At the time of her arrest, she was demonstrating outside the Hart Senate office building with other protesters.
Jackson Lee, whose state is one of the hardest places to vote in the US, said at this time”:
Any act that is a peaceful act of civil disobedience is worthy, and more than that, to push us all to the better.
In a statement Sunday, Jackson Lee said she was committed to working with the Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries – as well as the Republican Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson – “to be present for a vote on legislation critical to the prosperity and security of the American people.”
“By God’s grace I will be back full force soon,” Jackson Lee said in a statement.
Ramon Antonio Vargas
Sheila Jackson Lee, the Democratic congresswoman for Texas who has revealed that he has pancreatic cancer has been in Congress since 1995.
In March, she fended off an intraparty challenge from a former congressional intern Amanda Edwards, garnering 60% of the votes cast in the overwhelmingly liberal district.
Her primary victory set the stage for her to run for re-election against Republicans Lana Sentonze in November, when her opponent’s party will try to hold on to a slim majority in the US House of Representatives.
Jackson Lee relied on her tenure and popularity in his congressional district to run for mayor Houston in December. But she lost to her fellow Democrat and former state senator John Whitmire by a margin of 65% to about 35%. The member of the Congressional Black Caucus filed for re-election to his seat days after his defeat by Whitmire.
‘I have boundless love for my son’: Biden says ‘so proud’ of son Hunter as trial begins
Joe Biden released a statement as jury selection began in his son Hunter Bidencriminal trial in Delaware Federal Court.
“I’m a president, but I’m also a father. Jill and I love our son and are so proud of the man he is today,” Biden wrote.
Hunter’s resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has put into his recovery are inspiring to us. Many families have loved ones who have overcome addiction and know what we mean.
As president I do not and will not comment on pending federal cases, but as a father I have boundless love for my son, trust in him and respect for his strength. Our family has been through a lot together and Jill and I will continue to be there for Hunter and our family with our love and support.
Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
Ramon Antonio Vargas
Democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee revealed that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and said her treatment may require her to be “occasionally absent” from Capitol Hill.
In a statement released to X on Sunday that referenced her Christian religious beliefs, the 74-year-old Texas representative acknowledged that “the road ahead will not be easy,” but added:
I stand with faith that God will strengthen me.
Pancreatic cancer is often fatal, but Jackson Lee — whose mostly liberal district covers part of Houston — didn’t elaborate on the specifics of her prognosis.
Hunter Biden, who spent the weekend with his parents, faces three felony counts of purchasing a firearm in 2018 while on drugs.
Prosecutors say Hunter Biden lied about his drug use on application forms when he purchased a gun and illegally possessed the gun for 11 days.
The president’s son admitted to struggling with an addiction to crack cocaine during that period in 2018, but his lawyers said he had not broken the law.
In his memoir, Beautiful Things, he describes how he became consumed by drugs and alcohol after his older brother, Bo, died in 2015 aged 46 from brain cancer. The brothers were very close, having survived a car accident when they were young that killed their mother and little sister.
Hunter Biden has said he has been sober since 2019. But prosecutors intend to use his memoir to prove he knew he was addicted to drugs when he denied it on the form everyone must fill out when buying a gun.
Hunter Biden arrived at a Wilmington courthouse earlier this morning ahead of jury selection in his gun-related trial.
Hunter Biden was accompanied by his wife, Melissa Cohenand his attorney, Abe Lowell.
His stepmother, First Lady Jill Biden, and his half-sister Ashley Biden, are also present at the case.
His father joe biden, whose presence would present significant logistical and security challenges for the court, is in Wilmington but is not expected to attend.
Jury selection begins in Hunter Biden’s gun trial
Good morning, US policy readers. Hunter Biden will be tried today in Wilmington, Delaware, on gun charges in a case that could embarrass his father, joe biden, and give a political weapon to Republicans desperate for a distraction in the wake of Donald Trumpa 34-count conviction in the New York money laundering case last week.
Prosecutors say Biden lied about his drug use on application forms when he bought a gun in 2018. He has pleaded not guilty. In theory, he could receive a heavy prison sentence, but this is considered highly unlikely. He has long struggled with addiction issues and a troubled personal life.
The trial, which will be overseen by a US district judge Marielen Noreika, expected to last up to about two weeks. Jury selection is scheduled to begin around 8:30 a.m. ET today, and the president’s son will have to be in court every day of the trial on the gun charges.
Here’s what else is happening today:
-
The House and Senate are in and voting tonight.
-
At 10 a.m. ET, the former government scientist Dr. Anthony Fauci will appear before the Republican-led House Select Subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic.
-
The House will consider punitive legislation international criminal court if he goes ahead with the arrest warrants for the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other Israeli officials.
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