A former FBI informant, Alexander Smirnov, has been charged with lying about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden’s involvement in business dealings with Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings, according to CNN. Smirnov, 43, is facing charges related to lying to the FBI and creating false records. The allegations against the Bidens were a significant aspect of Republicans’ impeachment inquiry against President Biden. Smirnov was arrested upon his arrival in the US at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and will appear in federal court on Thursday afternoon.
According to the indictment, Smirnov’s story to the FBI was a fabrication, and he had misrepresented business meetings and contacts that had taken place at a later date. The purpose of these meetings was not to discuss bribes to Joe Biden while he was in office, but rather to pitch Burisma on Smirnov’s services and products.
The FBI is now using some of the same memos released by congressional Republicans as part of their indictment against Smirnov. Hunter Biden’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, stated that the allegations against the Biden family were based on lies told by individuals with political agendas.
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, who released the 1023 form last year, emphasized the need for the Justice Department to thoroughly investigate the bribery allegations against the Bidens. Meanwhile, House Oversight Chair James Comer clarified that Smirnov and his claims were not the focus of his investigation into President Biden.
The indictment reveals that Smirnov claimed to have spoken with the owner of Burisma about the company’s efforts to purchase a US company. He also mentioned the involvement of an individual referred to as Businessperson 1 who was on Burisma’s board and was the son of Public Official 1. Although not explicitly identified in the indictment, sources have identified Public Official 1 as Joe Biden and Businessperson 1 as Hunter Biden.
During Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, Smirnov allegedly reported to the FBI about meetings with Burisma executives in 2015 and 2016. In these meetings, the executives admitted that they had hired Hunter Biden to protect them from potential problems through his father’s influence. Smirnov also claimed that the executives had paid $5 million each to Joe and Hunter Biden while Joe Biden was Vice President to address issues related to a criminal investigation conducted by the Ukrainian prosecutor general into Burisma.
As this case involving the former FBI informant unfolds, it will undoubtedly attract significant attention due to its connections to the previous impeachment inquiry against President Biden. The charges against Smirnov call into question the credibility of the allegations made by some Republicans against the Biden family. The legal proceedings will provide an opportunity for the Justice Department to carefully examine the evidence and present a comprehensive case. The public will be watching closely for further developments.
