An FBI informant who falsely accused Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, of accepting a $5 million bribe from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma has pleaded guilty in a California court.
Alexander Smirnov, who initially made the allegations in 2020, admitted to fabricating the claims in a case prosecuted by Justice Department special counsel David Weiss.
The guilty plea, revealed in court documents obtained by JustTheNews, marks a significant development in a years-long saga that drew national attention and fueled partisan debates over alleged corruption.
Breaking: Former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov pleads guilty to lying to agency about the Bidens https://t.co/mABf61SI8p
— Just the News (@JustTheNews) December 12, 2024
The allegations originally centered on Smirnov’s testimony that the Bidens received $5 million from Burisma executives to pressure the Ukrainian government into firing a prosecutor investigating the company. Court filings now confirm that Smirnov knowingly provided false testimony.
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The claims emerged during the 2020 presidential election, as then-President Donald Trump used Smirnov’s testimony to attack Joe Biden’s alleged involvement in overseas business dealings.
The accusations became a focal point of Trump’s campaign, with Biden being accused of leveraging his position as vice president to aid his son’s business interests.
Joe Biden and Barack Obama must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law when Donald Trump comes to power.
'I said, I'm telling you, you're not getting the billion dollars"... I looked at them and said: "I'm leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you're not… pic.twitter.com/E9lNnfryu1 — Senator Babet (@senatorbabet) June 28, 2024
A Republican-led congressional investigation uncovered evidence that Hunter Biden used his family name in dealings with influential figures in adversarial nations such as Russia and China.
Documents from 2014, including White House emails, suggested that some of these interactions were flagged to the Obama administration, though many were not.
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Despite Smirnov’s false claims, questions surrounding the Bidens’ foreign business dealings remain a source of contention.
The case against Smirnov comes shortly after President Biden issued a blanket pardon for his son Hunter, covering the period when he served on Burisma’s board.
This controversial pardon shields Hunter from prosecution for unpaid taxes on income earned during his tenure with the Ukrainian company.
It also expunges a felony gun conviction in Delaware.
The pardon has drawn criticism for undermining public confidence in the justice system.
HOW IS THE UKRAINE INVOLVED IN THE HUNTER BIDEN PARDON?@MikeBenzCyber reveals astonishing details about the timeline of Hunter's involvement with Burisma and its ties to US operations in Ukraine.@nataliegwinters pic.twitter.com/lRIDA1fJGq
— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) December 2, 2024
Critics argue it contradicts Biden’s stated commitment to upholding the rule of law, especially given his administration’s focus on accountability.
Anita Dunn, a senior advisor to President Biden, recently acknowledged that the pardon decision was made internally within the Biden family, disregarding potential political fallout. “I think many observers are concerned about a president who ran to restore the rule of law… kind of saying, ‘well, maybe not right now,’” Dunn said in a statement.
Smirnov’s fabricated allegations, which have now unraveled, played a significant role in shaping public perceptions during the 2020 election.
The accusations were leveraged by Republicans, including House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY), who frequently referred to the Bidens as the “Biden Crime Family.”
The moniker became a rallying cry among Trump supporters and served as a reminder of the controversies surrounding Hunter Biden’s business activities.
While Smirnov’s guilty plea puts an end to one chapter of this contentious saga, questions about the Bidens’ business dealings continue to linger.
The investigations and political fallout surrounding these issues are likely to remain a point of debate as Congress and federal agencies scrutinize the extent of the family’s international business ties.
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One million dead Ukrainians, untold russians died, my oh my, it’s no wonder the skies are filling up with alien ships that can disarm nuclear weapons. Down aircraft, disable power grids, and more. That’s the untold story. Trumps going to be the clean up guy. Russia knows it.