2024-02-21 10:19:48
FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, who is said to have spread false information regarding US President Joe Biden’s son, received the material for his claims from Russian intelligence. Smirnov admitted this during questioning, according to a document filed by special investigators in a federal court in the US state of Nevada.
Smirnov was arrested at Las Vegas airport last week following returning from a trip abroad. According to the indictment, he told lies to the US Federal Police FBI regarding alleged bribes that Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden are said to have received from a Ukrainian gas company. Smirnov has both US and Israeli citizenship.
The indictment of the former FBI informant is a major setback for opposition Republicans in their efforts to initiate impeachment proceedings once morest President Biden on corruption charges. Smirnov’s statements have so far played a central role in these efforts. The impact of the false information regarding the Bidens provided to the FBI in 2020 “continues to be felt today,” investigators wrote, referring to the Republicans’ actions.
More on the topic: US election
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The defendant faces up to 25 years in prison
Smirnov now faces up to 25 years in prison. He had alleged that Joe and Hunter Biden each received $5 million (4.65 million euros) in bribes from Ukrainian gas company Burisma to protect the company from prosecution. Hunter Biden formerly served on Burisma’s board of directors.
The investigators also said that Smirnov continued to spread fabricated stories regarding Hunter Biden and was being supplied by Russian intelligence for this. The misinformation he spread was not limited to 2020. The informant only met with Russian intelligence workers once more last November and is “actively spreading new lies.” Investigators warn that this false information might also have an impact on the upcoming US elections.
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Republicans accuse Hunter Biden of abusing his father’s position as a former deputy to President Barack Obama for business in Ukraine and China. Their attacks are ultimately aimed at President Biden, whom they accuse of being involved in his son’s controversial foreign business dealings and of having benefited financially from them.
Biden’s Democrats, in turn, accuse the Republicans of a political maneuver to harm the incumbent shortly before the election. In this year’s presidential election in November, there will probably be another duel between Biden and Trump.
FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, who is said to have spread false information regarding US President Joe Biden’s son, received the material for his claims from Russian intelligence. Smirnov admitted this during questioning, according to a document filed by special investigators in a federal court in the US state of Nevada.
Smirnov was arrested at Las Vegas airport last week following returning from a trip abroad. According to the indictment, he told lies to the US Federal Police FBI regarding alleged bribes that Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden are said to have received from a Ukrainian gas company. Smirnov has both US and Israeli citizenship.
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