Jury selection began Monday in a federal firearms case against Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden.

The younger Biden faces three federal charges related to false statements he allegedly made in order to purchase a gun in 2018. He was required under federal law to provide a written statement attesting that he was not addicted to any stimulant, narcotic, or other controlled substance, and he did so despite having publicly struggled with drug and alcohol addiction through much of his adult life. His 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things, which details these battles, included an antidote from 2018 in which he described his “superpower” as “finding crack anytime, anywhere.”

Biden is not accused of having used the gun for illicit purposes; he owned it for 11 days, and claims never to have fired or even loaded it. Ultimately, it was discovered along with its ammunition in a public garbage can.

In September 2023, he was indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts related to his written denial of addiction, and one of unlawful gun ownership during the 11-day period.

If convicted, he could face a maximum of 25 years in prison.

In July 2023, Biden was poised to accept a plea deal related to separate tax charges, but that included a grant of prosecutorial immunity that would have extended to this case. The deal fell apart under the scrutiny of federal judge Maryellen Noreika raised concerns over the immunity from prosecution it would grant the defendant, and expressed concern about “rubber stamping” an unconventional deal.

Hunter Biden’s trial in US District Court in Delaware begins days after former US President Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in his New York hush money criminal trial. Both cases are historic. One represents the first conviction of a former US president, and the other — the first criminal trial of a standing president’s child. And both have spurred public debate over the convergence of politics and justice, particularly ahead of an incredibly divisive presidential election. 

A poll released Sunday by ABC News/IPSOS revealed that nearly half of Americans believe the Trump charges were politically motivated. A Friday poll by Reuters/IPSOS revealed a stark divide between Democrats and Republicans in this regard, with 89% of the former believing the case was about upholding the rule of law, and 87% of the latter believing the case was politically motivated.

Voir dire documents reveal that views on political prosecution will feature prominently among the questions being asked to potential jurors this week. Questions will include: “Do you believe Robert Hunter Biden is being prosecuted in this case because his father is the President of the United States and a candidate for President?” and “Do you believe the United States Department of Justice, the FBI, ATF, DEA, or any other law enforcement agency investigates and prosecutes individuals because of politics?”