Hallie Biden, widow of President Biden’s late son Beau, testified on Thursday about her actions in 2018 when she discovered Hunter Biden’s firearm. She described her reaction as one of panic upon finding the gun, leading her to dispose of it.
Taking the stand in the federal gun case against her brother-in-law, Hunter Biden, Hallie recounted the events surrounding the discovery. Hunter Biden is facing charges for allegedly lying on a federal form about his drug use to illegally obtain the firearm.
At the time of the incident, Hallie Biden was briefly involved in a romantic relationship with Hunter. She explained to the jury that she came across the gun and ammunition in the console of Hunter’s truck in October 2018.
“I was scared to even touch it,” she said, according to The Associated Press. “I didn’t know if it was loaded or not.”
Concerned about the potential danger to her children if she hid the gun, Hallie decided to dispose of it. She placed the firearm in a shopping bag and discarded it outside a high-end grocery store near her Wilmington, Delaware, home. Prosecutors presented surveillance footage showing her disposing of the gun.
“I realize now it was a foolish thing to do, but at the time, I was panicking,” she admitted, as reported by the AP.
Hallie Biden also spoke about Hunter Biden’s drug use during their relationship, which began after Beau Biden’s death from brain cancer in 2015. She testified that Hunter introduced her to crack cocaine, responding “Hunter did,” when asked by federal prosecutors who introduced her to the drug.
“It was a horrifying experience,” she said. “I’m embarrassed and ashamed, and I deeply regret that period of my life.”
Hallie described Hunter’s behavior while using crack, noting that it made him “agitated or high-strung,” though sometimes he seemed to function normally.
Her testimony is significant in the case against Hunter Biden, providing insight into his drug use and the circumstances leading to her decision to discard the gun, a key element in the charges he faces.
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