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Jury selection in Hunter Biden's trial on three felony firearm charges related to his October 2018 handgun purchase in California while allegedly addicted to illegal drugs began in Delaware federal court on Monday.

First lady Jill Biden was expected to attend the first day of trial, along with Hunter Biden's wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, and sister Ashley Biden. President Joe Biden is scheduled to be working in Wilmington on Monday, as well.

U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika was set to seat 12 jurors and four alternates ahead of opening arguments.

Hunter Biden was indicted by a federal grand jury in September on one count of false statement in purchase of a firearm, one count of false statement related to information required to be kept by a federal firearms-licensed dealer, and one count of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.

An earlier plea deal reached with prosecutors last summer fell apart in July, leading to the indictment in September and sending the case toward trial.

The counts now slated to be heard by the federal jury in Delaware could carry a maximum penalty of up to a combined 25-year prison term. Two counts focus on his alleged failure to disclose his drug use or addiction when he purchased a Colt Cobra .38 Special revolver, and the third count relates to his purported possession and purchase of the firearm after falsely representing his drug abuse.

The case moved forward in a national political climate hyper-charged by jury verdicts last week in a New York City courtroom that found former President Donald Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

Some questions proposed for Judge Noreika's jury selection process include asking about each candidate's involvement with political campaigns or parties, whether federal law enforcement agencies "prosecute individuals because of politics" and, "do you believe Robert Hunter Biden is being prosecuted in this case because his father is the president of the United States and a candidate for president?"

A jury instruction proposed by Hunter Biden, filed with the court, indicated in part that his attorneys will argue that charges against him ignore the fact that he was not actively using drugs at the time he purchased the handgun.

Hunter Biden's attorneys argued that two separate circuit court decisions "require that any jury instruction specify" that the law is violated "only when a person is simultaneously armed and actively intoxicated, and using the weapon in some way" that terrifies or endangers others.