Hunter Biden's ex-girlfriend testified that she “panicked” when she searched Biden's car and found a gun. This was the moment that set off a chain of chaotic events that brought the president's son to federal court.
Harley Biden, who is also the widow of the defendant's late son, Bowe, said she found the revolver among a pile of clothing and trash in the glove box of Hunter Biden's truck.
A Delaware court is scheduled to begin hearing two additional witnesses on Friday as prosecutors present their remaining evidence to jurors.
It is unclear whether Mr. Biden will testify in person in the first trial of the son of a sitting US president.
The 54-year-old was accused of lying on forms about drug use while purchasing firearms and ammunition on Oct. 12, 2018. He could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Biden has pleaded not guilty to three charges related to possessing a firearm while using drugs.
His lawyers said he was in recovery at the time, and it was true that he had clearly stated in his documents that he was not a drug user.
On Thursday, the court heard from Harley Biden, a central figure in the case who had a romantic relationship with the defendant shortly after the deaths of her brother and husband in 2015.
Biden, 50, told the court he was “embarrassed and embarrassed” that he began smoking crack cocaine himself after Biden introduced him to it.
In her often emotional and detailed testimony, she spoke of the couple's “volatile” and “unstable” relationship, as well as her drug use and painful battle for recovery.
Mrs. Biden testified that she stopped using drugs in August 2018, but Hunter Biden continued to use drugs.
After seeing Biden look “exhausted” and fearing he would use crack again, Biden told jurors his truck was searched in the early morning hours of Oct. 23, 2018. This was something she often did.
There, she found “remnants” of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia amid piles of clothing and trash.
“Oh, and a gun, of course.” she added.
She recalled feeling panicked almost immediately.
“I didn’t want him to hurt himself, and I didn’t want my kids to find it and hurt themselves,” the mother of two said.
Mrs. Biden said, “I was afraid to touch it,” adding, “I didn’t even know it was loaded.”
Terrified, she wrapped the .38-caliber Colt Cobra revolver in a leather pouch, placed it in a purple “small gift shopping bag,” then drove to a nearby grocery store and threw it in the trash.
“Now I realize that was a stupid idea,” she said. “But I was panicking.”
At first, she had no plans to tell Biden what she had done. But when he woke up in the morning, he realized it was gone.
Read one angry text shown to jurors: “Did Harley take that from me?” “You need to help me think right now, Harley. This is very serious.”
At his urging, she returned to the store to look for the gun, but couldn't find it. She then filed a report with the police.
“I will take responsibility.” She texted him from the scene. “I don’t want to live like this.”
It was previously revealed that the weapon was discovered by a man who frequently rummaged through grocery store trash piles to collect recyclables.
Mrs. Biden also told the court that she had never seen Mr. Biden use crack cocaine in the days leading up to his purchase and disposal of the gun.
As she testified, Hunter Biden appeared to be looking at her intently.
He also reflected on his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, who has been attending the trial every day so far.
