Ex-FBI Informant Pleads Guilty to Lying About Bidens in Bribery Claim

A California man who falsely accused President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, of accepting bribes is pleading guilty to federal charges, according to a plea agreement filed in court on Thursday. The man, Alexander Smirnov, had been indicted in February by special counsel David Weiss, whose investigations into Hunter Biden have now concluded following the president’s recent pardon of his son.

Smirnov, a longtime confidential FBI informant, claimed in 2020 that both Joe and Hunter Biden received $5 million each from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma several years earlier. However, the charging documents clearly state that these allegations “were false, as the Defendant knew.”

The allegations, which were later formalized in an FBI document, became central to congressional Republicans’ investigations into the Biden family. The claims provided fuel for GOP efforts to scrutinize President Biden and his family, despite their now-confirmed falsehood.

On Thursday, prosecutors from Weiss’ office revealed that Smirnov will plead guilty to one count of creating a false federal record, referring to the FBI document where his fabricated information was recorded. In addition to that charge, Smirnov is pleading guilty to three tax-related counts filed against him last month.

Smirnov’s case marks a significant turn in the investigations that had long targeted the Biden family. With Hunter Biden receiving a presidential pardon earlier this month and Smirnov’s guilty plea, Weiss’ cases—and likely his role as special counsel—are now wrapping up.

Weiss, who was initially appointed as U.S. attorney during the Trump administration, remained in his position under the Biden administration to continue his investigation into Hunter Biden. Earlier this year, Attorney General Merrick Garland elevated Weiss to special counsel, a move that underscored the sensitivity of the probe.

While Smirnov’s false claims made headlines and shaped political narratives, their collapse under investigation reveals how the case unraveled. Prosecutors found that Smirnov knowingly fabricated the bribery allegations, leading to a federal indictment and subsequent plea deal.

Smirnov’s lies about the Bidens not only influenced FBI records but also became a focal point in Republican-led congressional probes. These efforts hinged on Smirnov’s accusations, now proven to be entirely false, highlighting the political fallout of the case.

Neither Weiss’ office nor Smirnov’s attorney offered immediate comment on the plea agreement. However, the guilty plea is a critical conclusion to one of the more contentious political investigations in recent years.

With Smirnov admitting to fabricating the allegations and Hunter Biden now pardoned, the saga surrounding the Biden family and Ukrainian connections appears to be closing. The case leaves behind a trail of false claims, political division, and now, an admission of guilt from the man who started it all.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Smirnov’s false allegations have backfired, leaving him facing federal charges while discrediting a narrative that once stirred intense scrutiny and controversy. “The claims were false, as the Defendant knew,” prosecutors emphasized, bringing an end to a long-running political drama.