Ex-FBI informant gets 6 years in bogus Biden bribe story

A former FBI informant, Alexander Smirnov, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for fabricating a phony story about President Biden and his son Hunter Biden accepting $10 million in bribes from the Ukrainian gas company Burisma. Smirnov, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, was arrested last February on charges of making false statements to the FBI in connection with special counsel David Weiss’ investigation into Hunter Biden.

The indictment against Smirnov came after he falsely claimed that executives from Burisma had paid then-Vice President Biden and his son $5 million each around 2015. Prosecutors revealed that Smirnov had expressed bias against Joe Biden as a presidential candidate and that investigators found he had only routine business dealings with Burisma starting in 2017, after Biden’s term as vice president.

Smirnov’s false claim set off a firestorm in Congress and resurfaced years later as part of the House impeachment inquiry into President Biden. The Biden administration dismissed the House impeachment effort as a stunt, emphasizing that Smirnov’s allegations were baseless.

Prosecutors described Smirnov as a “liar and a tax cheat” who betrayed the United States by attempting to interfere in a Presidential election with his bogus corruption claims against the Biden family. In court papers, they highlighted the seriousness of Smirnov’s actions, calling them among the most serious kinds of election interference one can imagine.

As part of his plea deal, prosecutors agreed to pursue no more than six years against Smirnov. His lawyers had requested a four-year prison term, citing his lack of prior criminal record and health issues, including severe glaucoma in both eyes. Smirnov will receive credit for the time he has served behind bars since February.

The sentencing of Smirnov in Los Angeles federal court marks the conclusion of Weiss’s probe into Hunter Biden. The special counsel is expected to submit a report to Attorney General Merrick Garland, who will decide whether to release it to the public.

Overall, Smirnov’s case serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of spreading false information and attempting to interfere in democratic processes. The justice system has held him accountable for his actions, sending a strong message about the importance of honesty and integrity in matters of national significance.