Court sentencing records and announcements

Alexander Smirnov Pleads Guilty in Los Angeles to Lying About Biden-Burisma Bribery Scheme

Dec 16, 2024, 04:00 PM

Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant, has pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to fabricating claims of a bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Smirnov admitted to lying to his FBI handler in June 2020 about executives from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma paying the Bidens $5 million each around 2015. His false allegations were central to the Republican-led impeachment inquiry in Congress. Smirnov, who had been an informant for over a decade, also faces a tax evasion charge for concealing millions in income. The plea agreement recommends a sentence of four to six years in prison. No evidence has emerged that President Biden acted corruptly or accepted bribes. The FBI investigated Smirnov's claims and recommended closing the case in August 2020. In September 2023, Smirnov claimed the Russians had recordings of Hunter Biden, information he said was passed along by four high-level Russian officials. Smirnov also claimed to have contacts with Russian intelligence officials who were involved in spreading the false story about Hunter Biden. The case against Smirnov was brought by special counsel David Weiss, who also prosecuted Hunter Biden on gun and tax charges. Hunter Biden was pardoned this month by his father, who said he believed 'raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.'