news night. laura coates live starts right now tonight. >> drugs, a gun, a document, and an alleged lie, another their historic trial. this time the president's son. >> so just who are the 12 jurors who will decide? >> hunter biden's state plus president biden tries at a new tougher message against trump, but not the public. what he just told a group of donors. >> and it was the foul seen round the world, but it has now become something now a little bit more hasn't been the new twist and the caitlin clark story tonight. >> i'm laura coates, live alright, stop me if you've heard any of these statements before, the cases, an unusual prosecution that quote, would not have been filed gantz anyone else? is the result of prosecutors have in quote, bowed to political pressure and the entire thing is quote, unquote, politically motivated can you guess which case i'm talking about? no, it's not donald trump's conviction in manhattan though all of those things hadn't thought about that case as well. i'm talking about hunter biden's trial and wilmington, delaware, which continues just hours from now with opening statements and all of those things that have been said about the case by hunter biden's attorney abbe lowell. i've just said the case, though. it could not be more different than the one involving trump, hunter biden has charges lying about his drug use when he filled out a form to purchase again back in 2018 and possessing the gun illegally and the form hunter apparently or allegedly checked the no box when asked if he is an unlawful user of any controlled substance and prosecutors, they say that was a lie. now, hunter biden's long history of addiction will be settled to this very case, and we actually saw that on full display during jury selection today they've got six men, six women, who were ultimately seated. but only after several potential jurors were questioned about their views on addiction, at least six of those who were seated have a friend or relative, or have themselves dealt with substance or else the hall abuse. and there's another pretty big difference unlike donald trump, who is consistently attack the justice system president biden hasn't said anything along those lines for the case against his son and say he's been expressing support instead, he says, as a father now he went to whelming to nowhere at this weekend to be with the senate ahead of the trial, and he wasn't in the courthouse that alone batch will courtroom, but dr. jill biden, the first lady, she was there. and in a statement, the president said this as the president, i don't and won't comment on pending federal cases. but as a dad, i have boundless love from my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength now, this trial will will publicize some pretty salacious details about hunter biden. and if the other historic trial is any indication its outcome here could either be a political drag or a buoy on his father in this very critical election year let's get right to devlin barrett. he's a law enforcement reporter for the washington post, was also in court today for 100 biden's trial just as you gotta reprieve from the other trial in manhattan, bear, you are now now in this one. you got to tell me what was it like today? what was hunters demeanor during the jury selection? they wanted to delay this trial unsuccessfully. of course right they had tried for a bunch of delays they didn't really get them. and, you it was a very interesting time to watch a hunter biden relate with his family because in each of these breaks, he is chatting with his family and obviously this is sort of a human drama that's going to play out in court what mostly what you heard from jurors was just how dramatic the drug issue, the addiction issue has been in many of their own lives that was interesting point is looking through some of the people we're talking about. >> i mean, they have six men. they have six women some were gun owners, at least six who've had some family or personal connection to drug or alcohol addiction that as a jury composition, it could very well go either way. no one guarantees anything from any juror, but what it out to you about the composition so i think one is reminder that wilmington is a small place, a number of plate were called talked about their personal connections with the biden family. those people weren't chosen for the jury obviously, what one? again, the addiction issue. one man talks about his brother who has addiction problem with heroin, and another talks about how their childhood best friend died of an overdose. so i think this panel has some understanding and i think some sympathy for the problem of drugs that doesn't necessarily translate to the charges though that's a really good point thinking about the distinction between the two, right the idea of having, and frankly, in this country, as far many others, of course, the idea of having contact or experience with exposure to abuse and addiction is a very real thing for so many americans. so perhaps this is a microcosm. what's going on? in the greater world as well. but what are you hearing about how each are going to approach their opening arguments tomorrow well, i think in the jury selection process, you sort of saw the beginnings of the opening arguments and on the defense side, what you saw is them abbe lowell, the defense lawyer, trying to warm up the jurors to the notion that the gut maybe the government doesn't have proof, or at least convincing proof that a hunter biden was using drugs at a key moment in time when this gun was purchased. >> so he's already laying the groundwork for that. and on the other side, you saw the government sort of preparing the jurors for the argument that, you know, whoever you are and whatever your problems are in life, there are still rules that apply and even people with addiction problems have to face the truth and justice system sometimes devlin barrett will know all rely on you for that the trial. thank you so much for joining us this evening. i want to bring in in rozzi, a former federal prosecutor, also with me, chris whipple, author up the fight of his life. thank you both for being here. let mean, again, with eugene on this, if that multiple guns there's people who have family members or friends who are battled are separate with addiction what is your take on this jury? because delta makes a great point having familiarity and understanding of addiction does not necessarily mean that you're going to rule either way in your verdict i respectfully disagree. i did a lot of drug and gang cases and he's right that in those kinds of cases, when you have somebody selling drugs and possessing firearms and there's violence, having a background of addiction in your family or per personally may not translate to been sympathetic to the defendants. but this one is different when he filled out those deformed the 44, 73, the atf form. and when he possessed for ten days on unloaded cobra 38 was he using number one? >> number two, are they going to feel sorry for him because there will be evidence that he was trying to get sober and as i understand it, he was purchasing a gun not to hurt anybody, not to kill any animals, but tough krista, maybe go target shooting as some way to keep him from off the drugs. >> if that comes out. i think this jury could be sympathetic, but i'm guessing i'm guessing it's an important point to raise. i want to go to you, chris, because you know, obviously no one can predict what a jury is going to do and obviously the prosecution has got to meet their burden of proof. >> that is what's required. it's how it ought to be this defendant who has a presumption of innocence. and they've got to prove their case. but the notion of how to hone into a discrete point in time is going to be an uphill battle. we'll see how they climate, but the white house press secretary, i want to go to you here is saying that this trial is absolutely not going to interfere with the presence ability to do his job, and the president saying this in a statement, i am the president, but i am also a dad and he talks about his love and pride for his son and the man that he is today. what kind of effect do you think this trial is going to have on president biden well luck. >> i think the statement really speaks for itself or the president is not going to comment on the charges but he is going to continue to express his love and support for his son i think that this is the bond between joe biden and hunter biden is is very strong. it's very hard, hard to overstate just how close they are and i think we've seen that he is holding hunter biden very close he's had them at state dinners. he was riding bikes with him and rehoboth beach and the first lady, jill biden, was in court. that's going to continue and i can tell you that there aren't very many cardinal rules in presidential campaigns, but one iron in clad rule and joe biden's campaign is that nobody will tell joe biden what to do vis-a-vis hunter biden they are very close. i think anybody who had who might have the temerity to suggest that he should distance himself from hunter for political reasons. that person would be looking for another job in short order, because that's how close they are. >> well, do you foresee a time that president biden obviously in his capacity? three as a father, rather than the head of the executive branch under which the department of justice and the feds are belonging. >> what he go to the court, would he be in the courtroom next to his wife, dr. jill biden? well, it's possible. i think it's absolutely possible. and i think that we should look also at this is obviously a real personal trials for joe biden it would be for any father in this situation with a son who was so troubled. but if you look at this as a political matter i think i don't see any anything damaging politically about this trial for a number of reasons. number one, there's absolutely nothing here that implicates joe biden in what hunter biden has been doing number two, i think there's nothing but upside for joe biden to be seen as being supportive as a supportive, loving father and again, as you've already pointed out, there, there are many americans across the country who can empathize with the problems of addiction and finally, number three, i would make this point, which is that the very fact that hunter biden is being tried in a court for a crime gives the lie to this notion that joe biden as somehow the puppeteer who can weaponize the department of justice and punish his enemies and reward his friends. because if that were the case, hunter biden would never see the inside of a courtroom well, chris there are the logic behind your statement, then there's a political spin wound seven would say, well, maybe this is an attempt to have smoke and mirrors. >> i'm trying to the way the world works works today, you can flip it on other sayyed and you know that quite well. but i hear your point and let me ask you cheat on this point because i got to go back to for people of how we're here. yes. >> hunter biden didn't want to be here at all. his attorney doesn't want to be here. they tried to have a plea. it went south, remind people of how we got to this point and how that went so wrong. >> well, in the summer of 2023 frankly, hunter biden got two very good deals one was the taxes and i have very strong feelings about the taxes. i worked for the tax division of doj. that's trial in september. but the gun charge, it was going to be diversion and diversion means they have a plea hearing. and if you're good for a year, it goes away i have to say this. i agree 100% with chris they talk about the weaponization of the justice department joe biden has authorized or permitted legally the prosecution of menendez and our menendez the congressman from texas, his own son. i think it's hard to argue, but you say i don't want you out, but you saying authorized, you mean well, he had me in his apartment. he doesn't put his thumb on a saclay. that's what i mean. yeah. right. he hasn't called up merrick garland like trump with new bar and say i want you to do this, how did this hunter biden case start in 2018 under the trump justice department. >> and joe biden justice department has allowed it to continue. so joe biden to me, is going to benefit from this for a couple of reasons. one, he staying above the fray, number two, he's not attacking a criminal process and three, he showing compassion. >> well, say, i mean, obviously this is not the president who is the defendant, unlike the prior case when you had a foreign president as the defendant and the action i remember a lot was made about the judge not wind to go forward the plea because they were viewing it as a quote, unquote, sweetheart deal that was not the judge's logic behind her ultimate decision in this issue and say we're hearing this now, we'll see how this trial 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comments about what could happen if he were thrown into jail i don't know that the public would stand it. i don't i'm not sure the public would stand for it with a house arrest for i think i think be tough for the public to take, you know, at a certain point, there's a breaking point biden's team seizing upon those words, accusing trump of quote, teeing up political violence. >> and they're calling him unhinged. it's just wanted a flurry of messages from the biden campaign as openly mocking donald trump but on capitol hill democrats are divided on how biden should well approach this verdict i think the president needs to campaign on his record and what he's delivering for the american people i think people see it. >> they feel it and in their heart, dave internalize it so you don't have to go out and beat the drum on that. >> i think that's gonna be a decision on. the president his campaign team. but i for one, i'm have no quorums bringing up the fact that that a jury of his beers found him guilty well, joining me now, click commentator for cnn and former georgia lieutenant governor geoff duncan, remember that he is dorsey joe biden, four president geoff, so good to see you again. >> listen president biden, he is not holding any punches, but of course, in a closed-door fundraiser, he did that. >> how about publicly, should he be out in front talking about this issue? publicly well, i think he's got a call, balls and strikes. >> donald trump is like he said, in his fundraiser. the first convicted felon run for the office of president, and that is has the added benefit of being true. this whole election is going to come down to republicans like me. republicans that are lifelong republicans conservative in nature, but just don't think donald trump is anywhere near fit to have the office of president and it's whether or not we're going to stay at home and just let it let it happen with the weight of gravity or we're going to show up and do something about it. a vote for joe biden isn't a vote for anything other than a gop to 0.0 get republican like me. it gives us a chance to purge donald trump from our veins as quickly and as efficiently as we can allow us to get our party back to where we where we can start to solve real problems and show up to the table with democrats and work through these big issues. this court case that we watch play out is some are gnashing and wailing right now other teeth talking about whether or not he should have had that the charges brought against we're not, you can't deny the facts. he slept with a porn star while his wife was pregnant. he lied about any paid people off. he cuts secret deals. he continued to lie all the way through the verdict from the jury and the jury of his peers ruled them guilty. >> while they found obviously 34 counts of falsifying business records. and, you are correct that a lot of those details did come out. he has denied the allegations, but you hadn't. interesting op-ed about this very point where you t