Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant, was sentenced to six years in prison after fabricating a story about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter accepting bribes from a Ukrainian energy company. Smirnov pleaded guilty to tax evasion and lying to the FBI in an attempt to influence the 2020 presidential election. Despite expressing bias against Biden, investigators found that Smirnov only had routine business dealings with the company after Biden’s term as vice president.
Smirnov’s false claim sparked controversy and set off a firestorm in Congress during the House impeachment inquiry into President Biden, which was dismissed by the administration as a stunt. Republicans had demanded the release of unverified allegations, but could not confirm their accuracy. Smirnov, who is a dual U.S. and Israeli citizen, was accused of betraying the trust of the United States and attempting to interfere in a presidential election.
Prosecutors noted that Smirnov had served as an FBI informant for over a decade, providing substantial assistance to the U.S. government. His lawyers argued for a shorter sentence due to health issues and the claim that he had learned his lesson. Smirnov will receive credit for time served since his arrest and faces new tax charges for concealing income earned.
His case was prosecuted by Justice Department special counsel David Weiss, who also brought charges against Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden was pardoned by his father after being convicted in a gun case and pleading guilty to tax charges. Smirnov’s lawyers highlighted the lack of punishment for both Hunter Biden and former President Donald Trump in seeking a lighter sentence. Special counsel Jack Smith dropped federal cases against Trump for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election and hoarding classified documents after Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
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