A former FBI confidential source faces imprisonment and new charges in a case that intertwines with the Hunter Biden investigation and claims of Ukrainian corruption.
According to the New York Post, Alexander Smirnov, a Ukrainian-born Israeli-American who previously informed the FBI about alleged Biden family corruption, has been detained for nine months without trial on charges of lying to federal authorities, with new tax evasion charges recently added.
Smirnov, 43, served as one of the FBI's most trusted confidential human sources, earning over $100,000 for his services before his arrest in February 2024. His arrest came during the Biden impeachment inquiry, where he had provided information about alleged payments involving the Bidens and Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings Ltd.
The case against Smirnov centers on claims that he provided false information about Joe and Hunter Biden's involvement with Burisma Holdings Ltd.
During a search of his Las Vegas residence, authorities discovered what they considered evidence of bias against President Biden, citing it as a potential motivation for providing false information.
Smirnov's legal team argues that any inconsistencies in his reporting stem from his FBI handler's poor documentation rather than intentional deception. They point to problems with the handler's record-keeping and the way information was recorded in FBI Form FD-1023, which is used for unverified informant reports.
The timing of events has raised questions about the handling of the investigation. The FBI's kleptocracy probe into Burisma owner Mykola Zlochevsky was closed in December 2019, coinciding with the FBI's acquisition of Hunter Biden's laptop.
Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who was overseeing the Hunter Biden investigation, allegedly concealed Smirnov's file from IRS agents Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler. IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley stated:
As a result of the information being concealed by prosecutors from the IRS [and] FBI investigators assigned to this investigation, we were unable to follow alleged criminal activity as would normally be completed.
The case took a significant turn when Attorney General Merrick Garland elevated Weiss to special counsel investigating Hunter Biden, effectively putting him in charge of investigating his own conduct. Seven months after this appointment, Weiss indicted Smirnov.
Smirnov's defense team has indicated they will challenge what they anticipate will be prosecution attempts to portray their client as a Russian operative or double agent. This characterization seems at odds with Smirnov's continued work for the FBI as recently as 2023.
Smirnov's January 8 trial in Los Angeles District Court Judge Otis Wright's courtroom is expected to put both the FBI and Justice Department's actions under scrutiny. His attorneys have subpoenaed Hunter Biden's former partner Devon Archer as a witness, suggesting they will explore the broader context of Biden family business dealings.
The imprisoned informant reportedly suffers from glaucoma and has been denied necessary medication in prison. His legal team plans to argue that the prosecution is politically motivated to protect the Bidens.
During his recent testimony to the impeachment committee, Hunter Biden referenced Smirnov's case, claiming that it demonstrated a Russian disinformation campaign against his father, a narrative that Democratic representatives have amplified in their defense of the president.
