Judge tosses case against two officials accused of lying about Hunter Biden
Also reported by The Hill
Summary
A federal judge dismissed charges against former FBI officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, finding that prosecutors had not shown probable cause that they knowingly lied to Congress. The judge criticized the prosecution’s handling and suggested the timing, shortly before the midterm elections, raised concerns; prosecutors could seek new charges through a grand jury.Key Facts
- Prosecutors charged Floris and Benavides last month with making false statements to the House Judiciary Committee in 2023.
- The officials had testified about the FBI’s investigation of a laptop belonging to Hunter Biden.
- Judge Zia Faruqui said some statements were not false and others could have resulted from honest memory errors.
- Faruqui criticized prosecutors for rushing the case and making critical mistakes.
- The officials served on an FBI task force that examined possible foreign influence in U.S. politics.
- An FBI agent testified that the inquiry into Floris and Benavides began after Trump announced an investigation into whether U.S. intelligence agencies suppressed information about Chinese interference in the 2020 election.
- Prosecutors may ask a grand jury to review the evidence and approve new charges.
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