Former FBI Informant Charged with Lying About Bidens’ Ukraine Dealings Points Finger at Russia, Prosecutors Say
The former FBI informant, who recently faced charges for providing false information regarding the Bidens’ dealings in Ukraine, has implicated Russian intelligence officials in delivering information about Hunter Biden, according to prosecutors. In a court filing on Tuesday, prosecutors stated that the information shared by the informant was completely false.
Allegations of Peddling New Lies and Links with Foreign Intelligence
It has come to light that the informant, Alexander Smirnov, has allegedly been spreading new false information that could potentially influence US elections after reportedly meeting with Russian spies in late 2023. Prosecutors further claimed that the repercussions of Smirnov’s previous unfounded allegations against the Bidens’ business dealings continue to impact the political landscape to this day.
According to the court filing, Smirnov asserts that he maintains extensive recent contacts with foreign intelligence officials, including Russian spies. He had previously informed the FBI about his long-standing connections with Russian intelligence, both with high-level officers and individuals involved in overseas assignments.
Continuation of Russian Involvement and Connections with Biden Story
The prosecutors associated with special counsel David Weiss’s team revealed that Smirnov has sustained these connections with Russian intelligence officials. Furthermore, during a post-arrest interview last week, Smirnov confessed that officials associated with Russian intelligence were behind a story implicating “Businessperson 1,” referring to Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden.
However, despite these grave allegations concerning Smirnov’s foreign contacts, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday that he would be released on bail while awaiting trial. The decision came with certain conditions, which include GPS monitoring and surrendering both his American and Israeli passports.
Serious Risks of Fleeing Accountability
Prosecutors contended that Smirnov’s claims of having contacts with multiple foreign intelligence agencies, including Russia, pose a significant risk of him absconding from the United States. The concern rests on the potential use of these contacts to facilitate escape and evade punishment for his actions.
Impact of False Accusations and Spread of Disinformation
Amidst the aftermath of Smirnov’s false and now debunked allegations, the contextual backdrop of House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into President Biden has led to substantial backlash. The discredited bribery allegations, in particular, have generated turmoil within the Congress, highly centered around the GOP impeachment probe.
Smirnov’s Charges and Constructed Narratives
Smirnov is currently facing charges of lying to the FBI and manufacturing false records. However, he has not yet entered a formal plea, and his legal representatives maintain his presumption of innocence. A significant revelation from the recent court filing is that Smirnov claimed to be in contact with four different Russian officials, two of whom are the heads of the entities they represent. The accuracy of Smirnov’s alleged contacts remains unverified, as does whether the Russians disseminated disinformation about the Bidens.
Serious Consequences of Falsehoods
In the court filing, prosecutors emphasized that the false information conveyed by Smirnov carried significant weight. As they stated, the allegations directly targeted a presumptive nominee from one of the major political parties in the United States, and the repercussions of these fabricated claims persist to this day. The ensuing chaos surrounding the discredited bribery allegations unquestionably influenced the GOP impeachment probe.
Smirnov’s Allegations of a Wired Hotel and Interception of Phone Calls
In a particularly notable claim, Smirnov reportedly told the FBI in September 2023 that Hunter Biden had been overheard making incriminating phone calls in a Kyiv hotel that was “wired” and “under the control of the Russians.” However, federal agents had concrete knowledge that Hunter Biden had never traveled to Ukraine, rendering Smirnov’s story entirely false.
According to prosecutors, Smirnov alleged that Russian intelligence officers intended to intercept the phone calls of “prominent US persons” using this hotel as a means to gather potential “kompromat” for the upcoming 2024 election. “Kompromat” refers to compromising information used for blackmail purposes. Although the credibility of Smirnov’s narrative remains in question, it closely aligns with the story he disclosed to his handler, involving Hunter Biden being recorded in a foreign hotel.
Persistence in Spreading Misinformation
The court filing highlighted Smirnov’s ongoing efforts to propagate falsehoods about a major party candidate in US politics. Prosecutors stressed that the misinformation being disseminated by Smirnov extends beyond 2020. They reveal his active engagement in peddling new lies that could potentially impact future US elections since his meetings with Russian intelligence officials in November 2023. Considering this fact, there exists a serious risk that he may flee in an attempt to avoid being held accountable for his actions.
Remaining Updates and Contributions
This article is an ongoing development, and it has been updated with additional details as they emerged.
Contributors
This article has been reported by Holmes Lybrand and Cheri Mossburg.
