Then the following closing arguments on a historical matter

Hunter Biden’s federal firearms case continues Monday after details of his battle with addiction filled a Wilmington courtroom last week.

The defense will continue its case Monday, expecting at least two more witnesses, possibly including James Biden, President Joe Biden’s brother. Attorneys said they have not yet decided whether Hunter Biden will appear in his own defense.

James Biden was in court Friday as the defense began questioning witnesses. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika sent the jury home early Friday afternoon after hearing testimony from Biden’s eldest daughter, lawyer Naomi Biden.

Hunter Biden faces three charges: He lied on a federal weapons form that asked if he was a drug addict. Prosecutors will also have to decide whether to present a rebuttal case.

After closing arguments, the case will go to the jury.

CATCH UP:Hunter Biden trial updates: Here’s what to expect next week after the trial ends early on Friday

Follow live updates from the Wilmington Courthouse.

Court break for lunch, then closing arguments

The court plans to return Monday around 12:05 a.m. for closing arguments in the federal firearms case against Hunter Biden.

—Xerxes Wilson

Court reading of portions of final jury instructions

Presiding Judge Maryellen Noreika is currently reading portions of their closing instructions to the jury.

The instructions outline legal definitions, the role of the jury, and the process for considering charges. He will read the rest of the instructions after the lunch break and closing statements.

The latest version of the jury instructions that has been made available to the public can be read below. This morning, the parties were discussing minor changes to the instructions, and the final product has not yet been released in court documents.

—Xerxes Wilson

Judge sets schedule for remainder of Hunter Biden trial

After both the prosecution and defense had given evidence, the presiding judge stated that she intended to read some of the instructions to the jury before breaking for lunch and making their closing arguments this afternoon.

—Xerxes Wilson

Prosecutors continue to dismiss the Hunter Biden case

After brief testimony from the FBI agent, prosecutor Derek Hines said prosecutors no longer had witnesses to contradict the testimony.

That means the case will soon move to closing statements before jurors receive their final instructions and begin deliberations.

—Xerxes Wilson

The defense is questioning an FBI agent about Hunter Biden’s phone location data

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell is now questioning the agent about location data vulnerabilities linked to Hunter Biden’s October 2018 text messages and calls.

—Xerxes Wilson

Prosecutors are focusing on texts from October 2018

Prosecutor Derek Hines asked FBI Special Agent Erika Jensen about Hunter Biden’s text messages regarding a 7-Eleven gas station in Wilmington, Delaware.

The location is important because Hunter Biden mentioned this story in an October 2018 text message saying he was waiting to buy drugs. Defense attorneys tried to discredit the news, saying Biden lied to Hallie Biden, the recipient, because he didn’t want to see her.

“There are messages in which the defendant refers to 7-Eleven both before and after (purchasing) the gun?” Hines asked Jensen what prompted her confirmation.

—Xerxes Wilson

Prosecutors call contradicting witnesses

After the defense case concluded, federal prosecutors called FBI Special Agent Erika Jensen back to testify.

Prosecutor Derek Hines is now asking her questions about text messages Hunter Biden sent in October 2018, when he purchased the gun at issue in the case.

—Xerxes Wilson

The defense rests, Hunter Biden will not testify

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell told the court that Hunter Biden will not testify in his ongoing gun crime trial.

That’s how Lowell presented his case Monday morning in defense of the president’s son, questioned by three witnesses: two gun store employees and Naomi Biden, the defendant’s oldest child.

The defense was scaled back from what Lowell had announced in his opening remarks and did not include the president’s brother, James Biden. James Biden was present at Friday’s hearing, but the court adjourned it earlier without his testimony.

—Xerxes Wilson

The court is on break

After discussion of the jury and verdict forms, the parties took a long side bench, and the judge left the bench.

After the break ends, the defense is expected to announce whether it will call additional witnesses, potentially including Hunter Biden

The parties are debating whether to include the term “knowingly” in the final judgment

The two sides are currently arguing whether “knowingly” should be included on the jury’s final verdict form, which is completed when the jury is ready to reach a verdict.

The term “knowingly” is important to the defense because their main argument for acquittal is that Hunter Biden did not knowingly cheat on the form he filled out to buy the gun, which prosecutors must prove to convict.

This term is found in jury instructions but is not included in the sentencing form among all the other elements of the crime. Lowell argued for its inclusion because the form of the verdict is the last thing the jury sees and is a “key” aspect of the verdict. matter – he said.

—Xerxes Wilson

The court begins with arguments over final jury instructions

The parties began trial this morning as prosecutors, the defense and the judge discuss minor changes to the final jury instructions.

The instructions will help jurors become familiar with important legal definitions and their ultimate role in making decisions.

—Xerxes Wilson

Who can be called to defend?

On Monday, defense attorney Abbe Lowell was able to call the police officer who became involved in the investigation after Biden’s sister-in-law, Hallie Biden, threw a .38-cal. revolver into the garbage can at the grocery store 11 days after purchase.

Lowell could also call James Biden, President Joe Biden’s brother, to testify about paying for his nephew’s drug rehabilitation program.

—Xerxes Wilson