Ex-FBI informant charged with lying about Bidens had Russian intelligence contacts, prosecutors say

Feb 21, 20240

Jose Luis Magana count

Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, talked to reporters at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, Dec. 13, 2023. An FBI informant has been charged with lying to his handler about ties between Joe Biden and son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company.

LAS VEGAS - A former FBI informant charged with making up a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden, his son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company had contacts with Russian intelligence-affiliated officials, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Prosecutors revealed the alleged contact as they urged a judge in Las Vegas to keep Alexander Smirnov behind bars while he awaits trial. But U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts allowed Smirnov to be released from custody on electronic GPS monitoring.

He is accused of falsely telling his FBI handler that executives with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma paid Hunter and Joe Biden $5 million each around 2015 - a claim that became central to the Republican impeachment inquiry in Congress.

https://www.startribune.com/ex-fbi-informant-charged-with-lying-about-bidens-had-russian-intelligence-contacts-prosecutors-say/600344859/