A former FBI informant whose fabricated bribery allegations against President Joe Biden and his son Hunter fueled Republican impeachment efforts is due for sentencing Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court.
Why It Matters
Prosecutors are seeking a six-year prison term after Alexander Smirnov pleaded guilty to tax evasion and lying to the FBI. The allegations, proven false, claimed the Bidens each received $5 million from executives at Ukrainian energy company Burisma in exchange for political favors.
Smirnov, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, worked as an FBI informant for over a decade, providing intelligence on various cases, including Russian organized crime. His lies were intended to influence the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, according to prosecutors.
What to Know
In 2020, amid the U.S. presidential election, Smirnov falsely told his FBI handler that Burisma officials had bribed then-Vice President Biden and his son Hunter. Investigators later determined that Smirnov’s only dealings with Burisma occurred in 2017, well after Biden’s vice presidency.
The claims reverberated through political circles, gaining prominence when House Republicans demanded the FBI release documents summarizing Smirnov’s allegations. Congressional Republicans used the unverified claims to support their impeachment inquiry into President Biden. The FBI repeatedly cautioned lawmakers that information from confidential sources like Smirnov was “unverified and, by definition, incomplete.”
Burisma Bribery Claims Proven Baseless
Smirnov’s allegations included claims that Burisma executives had recordings of bribes paid to the Bidens and that Russian intelligence likely had compromising material on Hunter Biden. Investigators found no evidence supporting these claims. In fact, Hunter Biden never traveled to Ukraine, a key detail contradicted by Smirnov’s story.
Smirnov’s legal troubles extend beyond his false bribery claims. Prosecutors say he concealed millions of dollars in income between 2020 and 2022 and attempted to interfere in the 2020 election by fabricating a politically explosive story. “He repaid the trust the United States placed in him…by attempting to interfere in a presidential election,” special counsel David Weiss’ team wrote in court papers.
Defense attorneys have argued for a lighter four-year sentence, citing Smirnov’s decade-long cooperation with the FBI and health issues related to his vision. They claim he has “learned a very grave lesson” and emphasized that a reduced sentence would account for his past assistance to the government.
Is This Related to Hunter Biden’s Presidential Pardon?
In short, no. Hunter Biden has faced unrelated legal issues involving tax evasion and firearm possession. In June 2024, he was convicted of three firearm charges for lying about his drug use when purchasing a handgun in 2018, fueling Republicans’ distrust in his character.
Additionally, in September 2024, he pleaded guilty to nine tax-related charges, admitting to evading over $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019.
Despite earlier pledges not to intervene, President Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon for his son on December 1, 2024. This pardon covered all federal offenses Hunter may have committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. In his statement, President Biden said that his son had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,” attributing the legal actions to political motivations.
What People Are Saying
Justice Department special counsel David Weiss’ team wrote in court papers: “In committing his crimes he betrayed the United States, a country that showed him nothing but generosity, including conferring on him the greatest honor it can bestow, citizenship.”
Steve Laycock, a former FBI executive assistant director said last year when the charges came to light: “We’re in a society now of disinformation and misinformation. You’ve really got to be watching and on the watch when information comes in and validating and verifying it.”
Congressional Republicans, including Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., have defended their reliance on Smirnov’s claims, asserting that the FBI’s warnings about his credibility were insufficient. Comer said previously that FBI Director Christopher Wray viewed Smirnov as one of the FBI’s “most trusted and highest paid” informants. The FBI, however, has repeatedly stated that Smirnov’s information was unverified.
What’s Next
The court’s sentencing decision (scheduled for 1 p.m. EST.) will determine whether Smirnov receives the full six-year term sought by prosecutors or the lighter four-year sentence his attorneys are requesting. Prosecutors argue a harsh sentence is warranted to deter future attempts to influence U.S. elections through false claims. Smirnov’s legal team insists his health issues and prior cooperation with the FBI justify leniency.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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