Federal prosecutors revealed text messages on Monday showing Hunter Biden attempting to meet a drug dealer the day before he allegedly lied about his drug use while purchasing a firearm. The texts, sent to a contact identified as “Q,” were presented as evidence during his ongoing trial. The messages suggest Hunter was trying to arrange a meeting to buy drugs just before purchasing a .38-caliber gun.
The texts show Hunter Biden, 54, coordinating with “Q” on October 11th, 2018, writing, “Meet me 7/11 at 3.” The day before, he messaged, “Can you meet me @ 7/11 now?” but “Q,” also known as “Jr,” was unavailable. It remains unclear if they met before Hunter visited Starquest Shooters & Survival Supply on October 12th.
According to the Daily Mail, “Q” was identified as Eladio Otero Jr., who pleaded guilty in June 2023 to using a communication device to support a drug conspiracy. Otero received a sentence of one year of supervised release and fifteen months in jail.
During the trial, FBI agent Erika Jensen was called back to the stand to counter defense claims that Hunter Biden was not addicted to drugs at the time of the gun purchase. Prosecutor Derek Hines highlighted the texts to “Q” to demonstrate Hunter’s frequent visits to the convenience store for drugs.
Hunter’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, challenged the context of the messages, questioning whether Hunter was meeting “Q” or simply buying coffee. Jensen admitted she had no additional context beyond the messages from Hunter’s laptop, which mainstream media previously dismissed as Russian disinformation.
Emails from Hunter Biden’s laptop, reported by the New York Post, show he withdrew $800 from his Wells Fargo account on the evening of October 11th. This aligns with testimony from Hunter’s ex-girlfriend, Zoe Kestan, who stated he often withdrew large sums to buy drugs, sometimes allowing dealers direct access to his bank account.
On October 16th, 2018, Hunter texted his sister-in-law and lover, Hallie Biden, providing location data that placed him at a 7-11 at 4 a.m. Lowell pointed out the inconsistency of text messages and location data, noting that sometimes one existed without the other.
Before resting their case, Hunter’s defense team called only three witnesses, including his daughter, Naomi. Her testimony was meant to portray Hunter as responsible, but texts between them showed Hunter was often unresponsive, causing concern. Naomi’s emotional messages highlighted their strained relationship, adding a layer of personal turmoil to the trial.
