that s always the defense lawyer s job. we talked about that a lot, looking at manhattan and the trial of donald trump. and defense lawyers are looking very often for one or two jurors who will hang up the jury, who will refuse to convict. so, this issue of whether or not hunter biden was an active user, active addict when he purchased the firearm is very important. it will interplay into the mens rea, the state of mind he had to have when he bought the gun, knowing at that moment in time that he was an addict. but the government has as mike says a mountain of evidence on either end of that transaction. prior months, subsequent months, and they ll try to use the testimony of his ex-wife to establish that he was addicted when he purchased the gun. we already have seen abbe lowell, hunter biden s lawyer, trying to push back a little bit, focusing on the point in time where they separated. so, all of this plays out as a very delicate dance in the courtroom. and, joyce, the prosecution
have told us that they re a little concerned about reputational damage or possibly alienating their clients. but in talking to several sources i have down in the florida defense bar, we do expect that he will be able to find lawyers, especially if he is willing to pay up front. this is of course the case of a lifetime, but it might take a little while before he finalize his team. then they ll need those security clearances because there is such sensitive material in this case. and again, that all adds up in terms of the time it takes and when this case is eventually heard. a former president of the united states with the condition if he pays up front. extraordinary. yep. paula reid, thank you very much for that. one of our next guests, a fo the headline, don t automatically write off the judge in the trump documents case. nick akerman joins us. he is also a prosecutor for new york s southern district as jessica roth, who is currently a professor at manhattan s cardoza law schoo
lifetime. but it might take a little while before he finalizes his team. then they will need the security clearances because there is sensitive material in this case. and, again that all adds up in terms of the time it takes and when this case is eventually heard. a former president of the united states with a condition, if he pays up front. extraordinary. paula reid, thank you very much for that. what are our next guest, the former watergate prosecutor, wrote an opinion piece on judge cannon, running in the new york times today. the headline? don t automatically right off the judge in the trump documents case. nick ackerman joins us. he s also former prosecutor for new york southern district, as is jessica, rot currently a professor at manhattan s core dauzat law school. jessica, let me start with you. what can you make of this ruling or this order from judge cannon? timing is everything in the trump documents case, and this seems to be somewhat speedy. i thought this is a good
trump. he is the new york senate writing quote, the former president, like all americans, is a loaded impartial jury but you re likely to find not a welcome mat but it unfriendly jury eager to convict. it raises a question both practical and constitutional, candy former president get a fair trial in his hometown? former new york republican congressman leah selden joins us now from long island. congressman, always good to see you. are they all licking their chops? click really hard to find a jury of his peers anywhere in america you talk about the lore for president but especially tough to do that at manhattan. you have a will probably be a very difficult jury selection process. the be a lot of candidates have very strong opinions about the former president with a wide ranging views. ultimately in order to secure a fair trial is going to be a