Washington: U.S. prosecutors intend to reassess the case of Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant who admitted to fabricating bribery allegations involving former President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. The development was revealed in a court filing submitted Friday in a Los Angeles federal court.
The review comes as prosecutors and Smirnov’s defense team jointly requested a federal judge to release him from prison while he appeals his six-year sentence.
“The United States intends to review the government’s theory of the case underlying Defendant’s criminal conviction,” prosecutors stated in the filing.
This move marks the latest instance in which the U.S. Justice Department has revisited or reconsidered legal actions involving individuals tied to conservative causes or associated with former President Donald Trump.
Smirnov pleaded guilty in December to creating a false record, admitting that he had fabricated claims to his FBI handler about bribes allegedly paid by executives at a Ukrainian energy firm to Joe and Hunter Biden. He also admitted to tax evasion as part of the plea agreement.
Also Read | Court Backs Trump-Era Rule on Immigrant Registration and Penalties
The informant’s now-discredited claims were included in an FBI document that momentarily fueled a Republican-led impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden—an effort that was eventually dropped.
The case against Smirnov was led by former Special Counsel David Weiss, who also brought separate charges against Hunter Biden related to tax violations and firearm possession. President Biden later issued a broad pardon to his son for the tax offenses.
Also Read | White House Stresses ‘All Hell to Pay’ if Iran Pursues Nuclear Weapon
Prosecutors, in supporting Smirnov’s temporary release, noted that he does not pose a flight risk or a threat to public safety. If granted release, his travel would be largely restricted to Nevada, where he resides.
It remains uncertain how the Justice Department’s internal review will affect the outcome of the case, especially since Smirnov has already entered a plea agreement. His appeal thus far is focused primarily on whether the time he spent in pretrial detention should be credited toward his six-year prison sentence.
