Inside Joe Biden’s Anxiety as Hunter’s High-Stakes Trial Begins
By Jake Beardslee ·
June 4, 2024
As the highly anticipated federal gun possession trial of Hunter Biden began this week in Wilmington, Delaware, President Joe Biden has been feeling immense anxiety and stress over the proceedings, according to sources close to the 79-year-old president. Jasper Colt / USA TODAY
Since jury selection started last week, Biden has been regularly calling his son Hunter and other family members to check on Hunter's mental and emotional state leading up to the trial, according to Politico. Sam Greene / The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
On the first day of the trial on Monday, both Biden and First Lady Jill Biden made the trip to the courthouse to show their support for Hunter in person. Jasper Colt / USA TODAY NETWORK
Sources say the topic of Hunter's legal woes has dominated family discussions, with Biden expressing fears over potential consequences like incarceration for his son or risks to Hunter's longtime sobriety. Jasper Colt / USA TODAY NETWORK
Biden administration officials insist the president will continue closely following the case from abroad later this week during a trip to Europe. Tina MacIntyre-Yee / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK
For the commander-in-chief, Hunter's prosecution has stirred up painful memories as Tuesday marks eight years since the loss of Biden's son Beau to brain cancer in 2015. SUCHAT PEDERSON / DELAWARE NEWS JOURNAL / USA TODAY NETWORK
Testimonies expected from Hunter's ex-wife Kathleen and Beau's widow Hallie, with whom Hunter had an intimate relationship, are said to be weighing especially heavy on the grieving father. U.S. National Archives / Wikimedia
The Bidens have a history of providing support to each other during times of crisis. In 1972, then-Senator Biden's first wife and daughter passed away in a car accident that also seriously harmed his sons Hunter and Beau. The News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Hunter Biden is facing three criminal charges related to a 2018 gun purchase. The indictment alleges he bought a firearm while experiencing addiction and provided false information on the required background check form. The case was brought by the Department of Justice, which is headed by his father's administration. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK
The trial is now underway in Wilmington, Delaware, where the Biden family is from. For now, President Biden can only watch from afar as the trial progresses this week in his hometown. Jasper Colt / USA TODAY
But those near the president say supporting Hunter through this challenging time from both a personal and parental perspective will likely be Biden's top priority, Politico reported. Jasper Colt / USA TODAY
