The defense team of Hunter Biden raises questions about who completed the crucial gun application.

On Friday, Hunter Biden's lawyer disclosed his defense strategy in court.

The defense team of Hunter Biden raises questions about who completed the crucial gun application.
The defense team of Hunter Biden raises questions about who completed the crucial gun application.

In a Delaware federal court on Friday, Hunter Biden's defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, hinted at a crucial aspect of his defense strategy regarding the person who completed the federal gun form in question in the case.

The key point of the government's argument is that Hunter Biden marked "no" on an ATF form 4473 when purchasing a firearm, indicating that he was not using or addicted to drugs at the time.

The first version of the form that Biden filled out was emailed on Oct. 26, 2018, and has been allowed into evidence by U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika.

Hunter Biden Capitol Hill
Hunter Biden is in court  (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In court on Friday, it was disclosed that a gun store employee, Gordon Cleveland, assisted Biden in completing the physical form at the store.

It is probable that Cleveland will be summoned to the stand, and Noreika proposed that the government will likely request him to give testimony that Biden completed the form and signed it.

Hunter Biden crashes Oversight Committee
Hunter Biden (second from right), the son of President Biden, and his lawyer Abbe Lowell attend a House Oversight Committee meeting Jan. 10, 2024, in Washington, D.C.  (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

The court was informed by Lowell that they wanted to know who authored the content on the form.

Noreika inquired, "Does Biden have any proof that he didn't tick the box?"

An evidence photo shows Hunter Biden’s signature certifying he was eligible to purchase a gun
An evidence photo shows Hunter Biden’s signature certifying he was eligible to buy a gun in Wilmington, Del., Oct. 12, 2018.  (U.S. Department of Justice)

Lowell stated, "They tampered with that form, as Cleveland accepted an ID he shouldn't have, and Palmieri, the gun store owner, altered it."

Judge Noreika stated, "What truly counts is the information provided by your client on the form."

Lowell again suggested it is all "subject to examination."

Hunter Biden court sketch
A courtroom sketch depicting Hunter Biden in a federal courtroom in Wilmington, Del. July 26, 2023. (Courtesy William J. Hennessy, Jr.)

Noreika indicated that she would decide later whether the physical form would be admissible as evidence but appeared to concur that the gun store employees could be scrutinized.

"Why can’t he question his credibility?" she asked.

The trial will commence with jury selection on June 3 and is expected to continue until approximately June 14, or potentially into the following week.

Bill Hennessy, the sketch artist who sat beside Hunter Biden during the courtroom proceedings, was patted on the back by the latter as he exited the room. Hunter had been seen wearing tangerine-colored reading glasses at certain points during the trial.

by Jake Gibson

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