Hunter Biden’s former partners painted a vivid picture of his struggles with addiction in court, revealing years of drug use and attempts to get clean. Their testimonies detailed the toll of his habits and the legal challenges he now faces. The courtroom drama unfolded with emotional and revealing insights into Biden’s turbulent personal life.
Former Partners Testify on Hunter Biden’s Drug Use
Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial featured testimony from two of his former romantic partners on Wednesday. They detailed his prolonged drug use and efforts to achieve sobriety.
Confrontation Over Crack Pipe
Kathleen Buhle, Biden’s wife for nearly two decades, described finding a crack pipe in their D.C. home’s ashtray in July 2015. This discovery led her to confront her husband.
Discovery of Drug Use
Buhle recounted Biden admitting to smoking crack after she found the paraphernalia. She moved out shortly after, but they did not finalize their divorce until February 2017, following an episode of infidelity.
Allegations of Lying on Gun Purchase Form
Prosecutors claim that Biden lied on a federal form in 2018 when purchasing a $5,000 gun, denying any drug addiction. He faces three counts of owning a firearm while using narcotics but has pleaded not guilty, with his defense arguing he was in denial about his addiction.
Testimonies from Former Partners
Buhle is among three women expected to testify about their relationships with Biden and his addiction issues. Zoe Kestan, who dated Biden in late 2017, also testified, describing his frequent crack use and drug purchases during their time together.
Cash and Drug Purchases
Kestan told jurors that Biden often used cash, which she believed was mostly for buying drugs. She recalled an instance where Biden gave her $800 to buy clothes for his children from luxury stores.
Supportive Family Presence
As Buhle testified, about 10 of Biden’s friends and family, including his current wife and first lady Jill Biden, attended the courtroom. Buhle revealed her suspicions of Biden’s drug use even before finding the crack pipe.
Evidence of Drug Use in Car
Buhle described Biden’s erratic behavior and finding additional drug paraphernalia in his car. She began regularly searching for drugs in the vehicle due to concerns for their daughter’s safety.
Kestan’s Relationship with Biden
Kestan took the stand after Buhle, recounting her relationship with Biden, whom she met while working as a dancer at a Manhattan club. She described Biden’s crack smoking habits and their subsequent whirlwind romance.
Crack Use During Relationship
Kestan remembered Biden smoking crack frequently, including during their first meeting. Despite his drug use, she noted that his charming demeanor remained unchanged throughout their relationship.
Sobriety Attempts and Unusual Treatments
Kestan detailed Biden’s efforts to get sober, including exploring unconventional treatments like applying frog venom. She described Biden as very stressed and determined to achieve sobriety.
Photos Reveal Lifestyle
Prosecutors presented several photos Kestan took of Biden, including one of him in a T-shirt with a marijuana leaf and the word “addicted.” Kestan found it humorous because Biden didn’t smoke marijuana.
Rehab Efforts
Under cross-examination, Buhle mentioned Biden’s three rehab trips for alcoholism. She noted that between 2015 and 2019, she did not witness Biden using drugs directly.
Last Encounter with Drugs
Kestan’s testimony challenged the defense’s claims by revealing she saw Biden smoke crack in September 2018, weeks before his gun purchase in October. Despite the defense’s argument of a relapse limited to alcohol, Kestan was not in contact with Biden at the time of the purchase.
Gun Purchase Details
Delaware gun store clerk Gordon Cleveland testified about Biden’s purchase of a Colt Cobra .38 Special. Cleveland recounted advising Biden to carefully fill out the federal form, which he completed without confusion, paying in cash for the gun and ammunition.
Legal Challenges
Defense attorney Abbe Lowell reminded jurors that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Biden knowingly violated the law. This central point was emphasized in his opening statement.
