First met at a gentleman's club in New York City in 2016
Hunter Biden on trial for lying about drug use on federal paperwork in 2018
Testimony from Hunter Biden's former girlfriend Zoe Kestan and ex-wife Kathleen Buhle
Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, is currently on trial for allegedly lying about his drug use on federal paperwork when he purchased a gun in October 2018. The trial has seen testimony from various sources, including Hunter's former girlfriend Zoe Kestan and his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle.
According to Kestan's testimony, she first met Biden at a gentleman's club in New York City in 2016. She described him as being
Hunter Biden's ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan testified that he was abusing crack cocaine ‘every 20 minutes or so’ when they first met.
Hunter Biden is accused of knowingly lying on federal paperwork to buy a revolver and ammunition from a Wilmington gun shop on 12 October 2018, as well as illegally having the gun for 11 days.
Accuracy
Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.
Zoe Kestan testified that he was abusing crack cocaine ‘every 20 minutes or so’ when they first met.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains multiple examples of selective reporting and sensationalism. The author focuses on the most damaging details about Hunter Biden's past drug use, while omitting any context or information that might mitigate his actions. For instance, the author mentions that Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison if found guilty on all counts but fails to mention that he has pleaded not guilty and his legal team claims he was in recovery at the time of the gun purchase. The article also sensationalizes Hunter Biden's trial by implying that it is historic, as it is 'the first criminal trial for the son of a sitting US president.' This statement may create an emotional response from readers, leading them to form biased opinions about Hunter Biden without considering all the facts.
Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.
The first criminal trial for the son of a sitting US president.
Fallacies
(75%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting the testimony of Zoe Kestan and Kathleen Buhle about Hunter Biden's drug use. However, this does not constitute a logical fallacy as long as it is clear that the author is reporting on their testimonies and not endorsing them. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing Hunter Biden's alleged drug use in vivid detail, but this does not necessarily mean that there are any formal or informal fallacies present.
Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison if found guilty on all counts
Zoe Kestan told the court he was often withdrawing cash for drug deals
Ms Kestan detailed Hunter Biden's drug use during their relationship. On the first day they met at the gentleman's club in December 2017, she said he started smoking crack 'within 10 minutes'
Another apparently showed the defendant in a bath with a crack pipe in his hand
Bias
(0%)
The author, Nadine Yousif, provides multiple direct quotations from witnesses testifying about Hunter Biden's drug use and his ex-girlfriend's statement that he was using crack 'every 20 minutes or so'. This clear evidence of drug use demonstrates a bias towards reporting on this aspect of the story.
Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison if found guilty on all counts
Ms Buhle testified that she first learned of his drug use in 2015 after finding a crack pipe in an ashtray.
Ms Kestan also testified that she saw him smoking crack in Malibu, California, over several days in September 2018, a month before he bought the gun. Prosecutors showed the jury images allegedly taken by Ms Kestan showing crack pipes in the rooms she stayed in with Hunter Biden. Another apparently showed the defendant in a bath with a crack pipe in his hand.
Ms Kestan detailed Hunter Biden's drug use during their relationship. On the first day they met at the gentleman’s club in December 2017, she said he started smoking crack ‘within 10 minutes’. She saw this pattern repeated during their relationship in luxury hotel rooms in New York, New Jersey and California.
Zoe Kestan, who met Mr Biden during a ‘private dance’ at a ‘gentleman’s club’ in New York, told the court he was often withdrawing cash for drug deals.
Hunter Biden's ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, first learned of his drug use in July 2015.
Buhle found drugs in Biden’s car on multiple occasions.
Biden's ex-girlfriend, Zoe Kestan, described him as ‘incredibly friendly’ and ‘charming’.
Kestan testified that she saw Biden doing drugs as late as September 2018.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position. The author does not disclose any sources for their information and there are no quotes from anyone other than the authors or individuals involved in the trial. The article also uses emotional manipulation by describing Hunter Biden's ex-wife and ex-girlfriend as being 'worried' and 'scared' about his drug use, implying that this is significant. Additionally, the author pontificates by stating that if convicted on all counts, Biden could theoretically face up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000.
Political maneuver: House Republicans are looking to go on offense, even if they don’t move the needle in their stalled impeachment inquiry into the president.
The jury has been excused for the day in the Hunter Biden trial.
The defense is pursuing this line of inquiry because in opening statements it told the jury that Cleveland essentially peddled the gun to Hunter Biden.
Hunter Biden's former girlfriend, Zoe Kestan, testified about his near-constant crack cocaine use at luxury hotels in the months leading up to his 2018 gun purchase.
Kestan described meetings with a ‘scary’ drug dealer and hunting for instructions on the internet to cook powder cocaine into crack.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains a few instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. It also uses a dichotomous depiction by presenting Hunter Biden's drug addiction as an all-consuming behavior without acknowledging the complexity of addiction. However, no formal logical fallacies were found.
. . .prosecutors are trying to prove that US President Joe Biden’s son lied about his addiction to illegally buy a gun.
The defence has worked to show that prosecutors have not presented much evidence that Hunter Biden was using drugs at the time he bought the gun.
If convicted on all charges in the Delaware case, Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison, though defendants generally receive shorter sentences, according to the US Department of Justice.
FBI Special Agent Erica Jensen testified about Hunter Biden's admission of drug addiction in his memoir that he did not disclose on the gun application
Hunter Biden checked the 'no' box on question 11e regarding drug usage despite admitting to drug addiction in his memoir
Accuracy
Hunter Biden filled out the portion of the gun application related to drugs at StarQuest Shooters & Survival Supply
Hunter Biden checked the ‘no’ box on question 11e despite admitting to drug addiction in his memoir
Hunter Biden's ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, testified about finding a crack pipe in an ashtray on the porch of their D.C. home in July 2015.
,
Accuracy
Hunter Biden allegedly lied on a federal form to buy a $5,000 gun when he was asked whether he suffered from drug addiction.
Kathleen Buhle testified that Biden acknowledged smoking crack and that she did not ultimately divorce him until February 2017.
Zoe Kestan, who dated Biden in December 2017 for 10 months, testified about watching him smoke crack every 20 minutes or so and buy drugs throughout their relationship.
Buhle found a broken pipe, white power, and other drug items in Biden’s car during their marriage.
Defense lawyers claim that after completing a 12-day rehab stint in California in August, Biden only relapsed by drinking alcohol.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position. The author does not disclose any sources for the information presented in the article. Additionally, there are emotional manipulation and sensationalism present in the title and body of the article.
, Kathleen Buhle, who was married to Biden for nearly two decades, testified about finding a crack pipe in an ashtray on the porch of their D.C. home in July 2015, leading her to confront her husband.
Kathleen Buhle is one of three women expected to testify about their relationships with Biden, 54, and his struggles with addiction.
Two of Hunter Biden’s former romantic partners took the stand in his federal gun trial on Wednesday, detailing to jurors his years-long drug use and attempts to get sober.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several instances of appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. It repeatedly references Hunter Biden's past drug abuse and criminal charges without providing context for his current situation or efforts towards rehabilitation. The author also uses sensational language such as 'Kathleen Buhle, the ex-wife of Hunter Biden, departs from the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building' which adds drama but doesn't contribute to understanding the case.
The author repeatedly refers to Hunter Biden's past drug abuse without providing context for his current situation or efforts towards rehabilitation. For example: 'Two of Hunter Biden’s former romantic partners took the stand in his federal gun trial on Wednesday, detailing to jurors his years-long drug use and attempts to get sober.'
The author uses sensational language to describe Kathleen Buhle's departure from the court. For example: 'Kathleen Buhle, the ex-wife of Hunter Biden, departs from the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building.'
The author quotes Zoe Kestan's testimony in a way that inflames the reader's emotions rather than providing useful information. For example: 'She said she met Biden when she was working as a dancer at a Manhattan gentleman’s club, and that she recalled Biden played a Fleet Foxes song when they went to a private room together because there was no music. About 10 minutes into their first conversation, Biden went to the room’s balcony to smoke out of a pipe, Kestan said.'
The author uses an appeal to authority in quoting the defense attorney Abbe Lowell's statement. For example: 'But prosecutors “have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hunter knowingly violated the law,” defense attorney Abbe Lowell reminded jurors in his opening statement on Tuesday.'
Bias
(80%)
The author, Pilar Melendez, provides detailed accounts of Hunter Biden's ex-wife and another romantic partner testifying about his drug use. The article does not take a clear stance or express any bias towards or against Hunter Biden. However, the repeated mention of drug use and the focus on this aspect of the trial could potentially be seen as implying a negative view of Hunter Biden. Therefore, while there is no overt bias in this article, it approaches 50% due to its emphasis on the negative aspects of Hunter Biden's life.
He used cash for a lot of things. I knew a good amount of it was for buying drugs.
Kathleen Buhle, who was married to Biden for nearly two decades, testified about finding a crack pipe in an ashtray on the porch of their D.C. home in July 2015, leading her to confront her husband.
Two of Hunter Biden’s former romantic partners took the stand in his federal gun trial on Wednesday, detailing to jurors his years-long drug use and attempts to get sober.
