A jury was selected on Monday for the federal gun case against Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son.
Prospective jurors were questioned on their views about gun rights and drug addiction, with the first lady present in the courtroom.
Opening statements are scheduled for Tuesday.
The jury consists of six men, six women, and four female alternates, all instructed by Judge Maryellen Noreika to avoid discussing or reading about the case.
Hunter Biden faces three felony charges in Delaware related to a 2018 gun purchase during a period of crack addiction, as described in his memoir.
He is accused of lying to a gun dealer and falsely claiming he was not a drug user, as well as illegally possessing the gun for 11 days.
The case is proceeding to trial after a plea deal collapsed, which would have prevented a trial close to the 2024 election.
Biden has pleaded not guilty and claims the Justice Department is targeting him unfairly, while Republicans criticized the previous plea deal as special treatment.
This trial is occurring shortly after former President Donald Trump, the leading 2024 Republican candidate, was convicted of 34 felonies in New York City for a scheme involving a hush money payment to a porn actor during his 2016 campaign.
Although the cases are unrelated, their timing highlights the significant role of the courts in the 2024 campaign.
Jury selection moved quickly, with 65 potential jurors questioned and 29 dismissed by late afternoon.
Judge Noreika individually questioned those who answered “yes” on a questionnaire to ensure their impartiality, with their names kept confidential.
