Judge denies release for ex-FBI informant amid bribery claims
- Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant, concocted a bribery story about President Biden and his son which played a critical role in impeachment efforts.
- A federal judge, Otis Wright, decided to deny the U.S. government's request to release Smirnov from prison while he appeals.
- This ruling reflects concerns about Smirnov being a flight risk after his conviction for tax evasion and lying to the FBI.
In Los Angeles, a federal judge ruled that Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant, will remain in prison as he appeals his conviction. The U.S. government, through a newly assigned prosecutor, jointly filed a motion with Smirnov's attorneys for his release while they review their case against him. Despite this request, U.S. District Judge Otis Wright determined that Smirnov poses a flight risk due to his conviction and the resulting seven-year sentence. Arrested at a Las Vegas airport in February 2024 after returning from abroad, Smirnov had been implicated in a false bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, which emerged amidst ongoing political tensions. Prosecutors argued that this scheme was intended to influence the 2020 presidential election and set off significant Congressional controversy when it resurfaced during impeachment inquiries against Biden. Smirnov, who has dual U.S. and Israeli citizenship and falsely claimed that Burisma executives had bribed the Bidens, has maintained his innocence. His attorneys confirmed plans to appeal the ruling while seeking his release, but the judge's decision reflects ongoing skepticism about Smirnov's reliability and intentions.