Former FBI Informant Arrested Again in Las Vegas in Connection to Biden Family Bribery Scheme
In a shocking turn of events, a former FBI informant named Alexander Smirnov has been arrested once again in Las Vegas. Smirnov, who claims to have links to Russian intelligence, is charged with lying about a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden’s family. This arrest comes just two days after a judge released him, and his attorneys are fighting for his release once again.
Arrested during a meeting at his lawyers’ law offices, Smirnov was taken into custody on a warrant issued in California for the same charges. The case against him was originally filed in California, where he used to live. While several sealed entries were listed in the court docket, no additional details about his return to custody were immediately available.
Prosecutors allege that Smirnov falsely told his FBI handler that executives from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma paid President Biden and Hunter Biden $5 million each around 2015. These claims became central to the Republican impeachment inquiry of President Biden in Congress. Smirnov has not entered a plea to the charges, but his lawyers maintain his innocence and look forward to defending him at trial.
To strengthen their case for keeping Smirnov in custody, prosecutors revealed that he had self-reported recent and extensive contact with officials associated with Russian intelligence. They also stated that he had planned to meet with foreign intelligence contacts during an upcoming trip abroad. U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts expressed concern about Smirnov’s access to money, estimated at $6 million, but federal guidelines required him to implement “the least restrictive conditions” ahead of trial. Smirnov was ordered to stay in the area and surrender his passports.
However, prosecutors quickly appealed this decision, arguing that Smirnov’s lies to his FBI handler after a 10-year relationship called into question his ability to provide truthful information to pretrial services. They emphasized the lasting effects of his false statements and fabricated information. Smirnov had been an informant for over a decade before making the explosive allegations about the Bidens, but court documents reveal that his business dealings with Burisma were merely routine starting in 2017. There is no evidence to suggest that Joe Biden acted corruptly or accepted bribes.
While Smirnov’s identity was not publicly known before the indictment, his claims played a significant role in the Republican effort to investigate President Biden and his family. These allegations ultimately led to a House impeachment inquiry into Biden. However, Democrats have called for an end to the probe following Smirnov’s indictment, while Republicans have distanced themselves from his claims and expressed their commitment to “follow the facts.”
Smirnov’s lawyers have stated that he has been living in Las Vegas for two years with his longtime girlfriend and requires ongoing treatment and daily medications for significant medical issues related to his eyes. Prior to moving to Nevada, he lived in California for 16 years.
As this complex legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how Smirnov’s case will impact the ongoing investigations surrounding the Biden family. With high stakes involved and a web of political intrigue, the truth behind these bribery allegations may finally come to light in the courtroom.
