A former FBI informant named Alexander Smirnov is facing charges for fabricating a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden’s family. He is set to appear in a California federal court on Monday, where the judge will determine whether he should remain behind bars while awaiting trial. Special counsel David Weiss’s office is urging U.S. District Judge Otis Wright II to keep Smirnov in jail, arguing that he is likely to flee the country. Smirnov was initially released on electronic GPS monitoring, but was re-arrested after prosecutors raised concerns about his potential to abscond from the United States.
In an emergency petition with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Smirnov’s lawyers argued that Judge Wright did not have the authority to order his re-arrest. They also criticized the judge for making biased and prejudicial statements insinuating that Smirnov’s lawyers were acting improperly by advocating for his release. Smirnov is facing charges for falsely telling his FBI handler that executives from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma had paid President Biden and Hunter Biden $5 million each in 2015. This claim played a central role in the Republican impeachment inquiry of President Biden in Congress.
Prosecutors have urged the judge to keep Smirnov in custody, citing his reported contact with Russian intelligence-affiliated officials. Smirnov allegedly told investigators that officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story to him about Hunter Biden. Smirnov, who holds dual Israeli-U.S. citizenship, is charged by the same Justice Department special counsel who has filed gun and tax charges against Hunter Biden. While Smirnov has not entered a plea, his defense attorneys have expressed their readiness to defend him at trial, highlighting his lack of criminal history and strong ties to the United States.
Despite concerns about Smirnov’s access to significant funds, a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Las Vegas released him on GPS monitoring, citing federal guidelines requiring the least restrictive conditions ahead of his trial. Smirnov had been an informant for more than a decade before making the explosive allegations about the Bidens in June 2020, expressing bias against Joe Biden as a presidential candidate. Smirnov’s claims have fueled Republican efforts to investigate the president and his family, contributing to the House impeachment inquiry into Biden. Despite these allegations, no evidence has emerged to suggest that Joe Biden acted corruptly or accepted bribes in his current or previous roles.
The controversy surrounding Smirnov’s fabricated bribery scheme involving President Biden’s family has raised questions about his credibility and motives. As the legal proceedings continue, the court will need to weigh the evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense to determine Smirnov’s fate. The case highlights the complex intersection of politics, law enforcement, and international relations, underscoring the importance of due process and fair treatment for all individuals involved.
