Drew Angerer/Getty Images
The Justice Department has accused a former FBI informant — whom Republicans say was used to support allegations of a corruption and bribery scheme involving Hunter Biden and Ukrainian energy company Burisma — to make false statements to federal authorities. He was charged with two counts of committing a crime.
indictmentSpecial Counsel David Weiss announced Thursday that during two business meetings in 2015 and/or 2016, “Burisma executives falsely admitted that they had hired them.” “He made the following claim.” [Hunter Biden] “Through his father, he protects us from all kinds of problems.”
Smirnov also said Burisma officials paid Joe Biden and Hunter Biden “$5 million each” and asked the then vice president’s son to “address all these issues through his father.” he added. The then Prosecutor General of Ukraine entered Burisma. ”
The indictment alleges that “the events that Smirnov first reported to FBI agents in June 2020 were fabricated.” In fact, the defendant had contact with Burisma executives in 2017, after the end of the administration. [Joe Biden] Since the dismissal of Ukraine’s prosecutor general in February 2016, he has had no ability to influence U.S. policy. The Justice Department said Smirnov had “routine and non-routine business contact with Burisma in 2017 after expressing bias against Joe Biden’s candidacy for president in 2020.” “The charges have been changed to bribery charges.”
Congressional Republicans have long sought to use Smirnov’s claims to launch a full-scale attack on President Biden. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced in September that he would direct members of his party to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. McCarthy: “Even a trusted FBI informant is alleging bribery to the Biden family.” Said in his presentation. Although Smirnov’s accusations were known at the time, his non-accusation was already well documented. provided additional evidence to verify his claims.
During the first hearing of the impeachment inquiry later that month, Republicans on the House Oversight Committee repeatedly referenced for claims made as fact by FBI informants. “We already know that the president received bribes from Burisma,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R.S., told the committee at one point.
In December, the House voted along party lines to formally authorize an impeachment inquiry. At the time, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told reporters that the investigation into allegations that President Biden and his son profited from unethical transactions with Burisma He said it could become the center.
Mr. Smirnov’s claims were widely circulated as the centerpiece of the Republican Party’s largely unproven allegations against the Biden family. According to the progressive watchdog group Media Matters, Fox News host Sean Hannity “broadcast Hunter Biden’s show at least 85 times in 2023.” suspicions involved Burisma executives allegedly paid bribes to the Bidens.
Mr. Smirnov was arrested on February 14th at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Thursday. If convicted of both charges, he could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.
