Accused of providing false testimony to US President Joe Biden, former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov revealed to investigators that he allegedly received incriminating information about the family of the head of state from Russian intelligence operatives. This report comes from CNN, citing the prosecutor’s office.
Smirnov, according to the agency, is “actively spreading deceptive information that could impact the US elections.” The repercussions of his previous accusations of corruption against the Biden family are still being felt, as stated in the report.
As documented in the case file, the former FBI informant claimed that he recently had “substantial connections” with individuals from foreign intelligence agencies. The prosecutor’s office suggested that Smirnov may have exploited these connections to leave the United States.
On February 15, 43-year-old Smirnov was apprehended at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, as reported by CNN. According to a statement from special prosecutor David Weiss, cited by Reuters, he is charged with giving false testimony in the investigation of Biden and his son Hunter’s involvement with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Investigators found that the meetings reported by the informant did take place, but at a later time than Smirnov had claimed. Furthermore, the purpose of these meetings was to promote Burisma’s services and products, not to discuss bribes to Biden, who was then serving as vice president under Barack Obama.
Smirnov alleged that in 2015 and 2016 he engaged with Burisma executives, who, in two meetings, supposedly confessed to paying $5 million each to Joe Biden and his son to have Hunter oversee all matters related to the company’s investigation “through his father.” However, the special prosecutor clarified that Smirnov actually interacted with Burisma’s management in 2017, following the end of the Obama administration. At that time, Biden no longer held sway over US policy, stated Weiss.
Joe Biden has consistently refuted any involvement in the Burisma affair. The impeachment inquiry into the president commenced in September 2023. Hunter Biden accused authorities of conducting an “unlawful probe” against him and his family, stressing that his father had no financial ties to the business.
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