When Hunter Biden bought a revolver from a Delaware gun shop in October 2018, he could scarcely have imagined the six-year legal battle and political storm it would create.
This week, the US president’s son, 54, will finally face trial over charges that he lied about being addicted to illegal drugs when buying a gun, in a case that has rattled its way to the top of the US government.
The prosecution case, led by David Weiss, the department of justice’s special prosecutor, will make use of some florid evidence collected from Mr Biden’s phone and extracts from his bombshell 2021 book.
A key question to be answered in front of a 12-strong jury, selected on Monday, is whether Mr Biden was using illegal drugs at the time he bought the Colt revolver. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
A form released by prosecutors shows Mr Biden did indeed tick “no” to a question asking whether he was an “unlawful user” or “addicted to” illegal drugs.