Hunter Biden was in a romantic relationship with Hallie Biden, the widow of his late brother, Beau Biden. The relationship between Hunter and Hallie began shortly after his divorce with Kathleen Buhle while grieving his brother’s death.
In October 2018, Hallie had a suspicion that Hunter was in possession of a firearm and believed that Hunter would have used it to kill himself. She searched Hunter’s truck and found a .38 revolver he bought earlier in Delaware. Then, she wrapped the gun in plastic and drove to Janssens’s Market where she tossed the gun into a trash bin.
Hallie told what she did to Hunter. He ordered her to go back and get the gun back. The gun was gone.
The store’s manager called the Delaware State Police and they questioned Hallie. The missing gun heightened a concern even more due to the store’s location where it sits across the street from Alexis I. du Pont High School and it could be used in a crime. In addition to their investigation, police called Hunter to the scene for questioning.
According to a report obtained by Politico, a police officer asked Hunter whether the gun had been used in a crime. Hunter answered the question agitatedly and asked the officer if he was trying to get him mad intentionally. The officer asked Hunter whether he had been doing drugs or drinking heavily, he said, “Listen, it isn’t like that. I think she believes I was gonna kill myself.” Hunter explained to the police officer that he used the gun for target practice.
Hunter was asked by the officer whether he had called his father about the incident before he arrived. Hunter answered, “I have never called my dad for anything.”
After being questioned, Hunter retrieved the case for the gun from Hallie’s house and gave it to the police officer.
While Hunter and Hallie were being questioned, two Secret Service agents came to the gun store where Hunter had purchased the missing gun. The agents showed their badges and identification cards to Ron Palmieri, the owner of the gun’s store. They asked him to hand over the Firearms Transaction Record that Hunter had filled out to buy the gun earlier that month.
Palmieri declined to give the transaction records to the Secret Service in case the gun was used in a crime. Later, Palmieri handed over the transaction records to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation also responded to the scene. At the time, they were monitoring Hunter as part of an investigation that focuses on his taxes.
Why would two Secret Service agents pay a visit to the gun store where Hunter purchased the gun? Why did they ask for Hunter’s gun transaction records? Didn’t Hunter tell the officer that he did not call his dad about the incident? In a case that was already being investigated by Delaware State Police with the involvement of the FBI, any involvement by the Secret Service on behalf of the Biden family or on its own initiative would be inappropriate interference.
The Secret Service declined to answer a question and denied the alleged informal involvement in Biden’s security.
POLITICO obtained copies of the Firearms Transaction Record and a receipt for the gun dated Oct. 12, 2018. On the transaction record, Hunter responded “no” to a question that asks, “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?”
Biden’s family have spoken about Hunter’s history of drug use. Hunter was discharged from the Navy Reserve after testing positive for using cocaine.
It is clearly stated on the form that certain violations of the Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. 921 et. seq., are punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and/or up to a $250,000 fine. Lying on the form is a felony.
Days later, the gun was returned by an older man who regularly hunts for recyclable items in the grocery’s store’s trash bin.
The incident did not result in charges or arrests.