Prosecutors Introduce Evidence In Hunter Trial
In a dramatic courtroom moment on Tuesday, Hunter Biden’s infamous “laptop from hell” made its first appearance before a jury. Federal prosecutors showcased the device, whose scandalous contents were initially reported by The Post nearly four years ago, as a central piece of evidence in their case against President Biden’s son. The charge? Illegally owning a firearm while struggling with drug addiction.
Prosecutor Derek Hines brought out the laptop, wrapped in plastic, and presented it to FBI Special Agent Erika Jensen, who confirmed its authenticity by checking the serial number. This MacBook Pro 13, once belonging to Hunter Biden, is now a critical piece of evidence as prosecutors from the office of special counsel David Weiss aim to prove that Hunter, 54, lied on a gun application form by denying drug use while purchasing a Colt Cobra revolver on October 12, 2018. During this period, Hunter was reportedly grappling with a severe crack cocaine dependency.
Federal Judge Maryellen Noreika had previously ruled that prosecutors did not need to prove Hunter was under the influence at the moment of the gun purchase but only that he was generally using drugs around that time.
I was reliably informed by my betters at NPR that this was a Russian disinformation story and thus unworthy of coverage. So this comes as quite the rude surprise to me. https://t.co/HLblZFAGn2
— Jeff Blehar is *BOX OFFICE POISON* (@EsotericCD) June 4, 2024
Using data extracted from the laptop, prosecutors began establishing a timeline of Hunter’s drug use before and after the gun purchase. This information was cross-verified with data from Hunter’s iCloud account, obtained through a subpoena issued to Apple. The evidence included a plethora of data, such as text messages and WhatsApp conversations, highlighting Hunter’s ongoing drug use.
Among the notable pieces of evidence shown to the jury was a 2018 message Hunter sent to his alleged dealer, Clifford O’Brien, requesting “baby powder, the real soft stuff.” Another message from April 28, 2018, included a photo of a digital scale with white powder, suggesting he had been shortchanged in a cocaine deal.
The jury also saw two video clips from the laptop. One clip depicted a shirtless Hunter holding a crack pipe while lying on a bed, and the other showed a pipe in the background. Additionally, the jury reviewed angry text messages Hunter sent to Hallie Biden, his former sister-in-law turned lover, on October 23, 2018, after she discovered the .38 revolver in his car and disposed of it.
“Did you take that from me…are you insane?” Hunter accused in one message. “This is no game. And you’re being totally irresponsible and unhinged,” he added. “Tell me now” he demanded, followed by, “Call me!!!!”
The laptop at the center of this case was infamously left at a Wilmington repair shop by Hunter Biden in April 2019. After discovering evidence of illegal activities, the shop owner, John Paul Mac Isaac, handed the hard drive over to the FBI in December 2019. Before doing so, Mac Isaac made a copy of the hard drive, which he later gave to attorney Robert Costello. Costello, whose client was former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, then provided The Post with a copy of the hard drive in October 2020. This led to a series of explosive stories about the Biden family’s business dealings abroad and the potential involvement of President Biden in those ventures.
Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to three felony charges related to the Delaware gun case. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison. The unfolding trial continues to attract significant attention, as it intertwines legal, political, and personal dramas involving the President’s son.