Kathleen Buhle, Hunter Biden's first wife, revealed disturbing details about her ex-husband's drug abuse, including finding a crack pipe at their home and witnessing his struggle with addiction. Buhle's testimony comes as Hunter Biden faces trial for allegedly lying about his drug use on a gun purchase form.
WILMINGTON, DEL. — Details about Hunter Biden's tumultuous relationship with drugs and its impact on his first marriage were revealed in court on Wednesday as the jury deliberates on federal gun charges against the first son.
Kathleen Buhle, Hunter Biden's ex-wife, took the stand and shared her firsthand account of his addiction, which she said reached a peak in 2015 when she found a crack pipe on their home's porch in Washington, D.C. Buhle, who was visibly emotional during her testimony, described her growing suspicions about Hunter's drug use, which she believed began after he was discharged from the Navy Reserves for testing positive for cocaine.
Buhle said that despite attempts at couple's therapy and a brief reconciliation in 2016, they ultimately divorced in 2017. She recalled the pain and fear she felt during the height of Hunter's addiction and the measures she took to prevent their daughters from being exposed to drugs.
"I was definitely worried, scared," she said, detailing her efforts to search his car for drugs to ensure her daughters' safety. Buhle's testimony provided a glimpse into the personal consequences of Hunter Biden's drug abuse and highlighted the toll it took on both his marriage and his loved ones.
Hunter Biden's former girlfriend, Zoe Kestan, also testified on Wednesday, offering further details about his drug use. Kestan, who met Biden in 2017 at a gentleman's club in New York City, described his "rampant" addiction to crack cocaine, which she witnessed firsthand.
Kestan testified that Biden would smoke crack cocaine as soon as he woke up and often disappeared into public bathrooms to smoke. She also revealed that she helped him obtain drugs on several occasions, describing how he purchased crack cocaine in quantities as large as a "ping pong ball."
Kestan's testimony corroborated Buhle's account of Hunter Biden's addiction and provided additional insight into its debilitating effects. She recalled witnessing Biden's attempts to clean up his act, including his experimentation with frog venom in an effort to purge drugs from his body.
The trial, which entered its third day on Wednesday, has also featured testimony from FBI special agent Erika Jensen and gun shop employee Gordon Cleveland. Jensen presented evidence from Wells Fargo bank records, while Cleveland recounted the details of Biden's purchase of a revolver in 2018, during which prosecutors allege he falsely stated he was not a drug user.
Hunter Biden, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, faces a maximum prison sentence of 25 years if convicted. The trial is expected to continue on Thursday with cross-examination of Cleveland and potentially the testimony of additional witnesses, including Hallie Biden, Hunter's former romantic partner, and Hallie Biden, Beau Biden's widow.
