Hunter Biden continued his long-shot effort to contest the outcome of his federal gun case after his attorneys requested a new trial in court papers filed Monday. They argued that his “convictions should be vacated” because the trial commenced before a circuit court formally issued a mandate denying his appeal.
The trial concluded nearly two weeks ago with a quick conviction on all counts. This appeal is a technical argument disputing the procedure rather than the merits of the case.
Hunter Biden was found guilty on two counts of making false statements on a federal form by claiming he was not addicted to drugs when he purchased a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver in October 2018, and a third count of illegally obtaining the firearm while addicted to drugs.
In a separate filing on Monday, Hunter’s attorneys argued that the Supreme Court's recent decision in U.S. v. Rahimi supports their motion for an acquittal or, at the very least, a new trial. The Supreme Court upheld a federal ban on firearms for individuals under domestic violence restraining orders. Chief Justice John Roberts stated in the decision that individuals posing a credible threat to an intimate partner's safety could be banned from possessing firearms while the order is in effect, consistent with the Second Amendment.
The younger Biden's legal team contends that because he never acted violently or misused his gun, his Second Amendment right to bear arms should remain intact. Additionally, they revisited a question raised during the trial concerning the timeframe in which a former drug addict can legally purchase a firearm, potentially setting the stage for another appeal.
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