Fact-checking spin surrounding the ex-FBI informant arrested for Biden bribery claims
By
Sarah Bedford
February 22, 2024 4:00 am
As the Justice Department fights to keep former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov behind bars, Republicans and Democrats are scrambling to fit Smirnov’s indictment into their partisan narratives about President Joe Biden’s impeachment inquiry.
David Weiss, the special counsel appointed to investigate Hunter Biden, charged Smirnov last week with making a false statement and creating a fake record — years after Smirnov told the FBI he had evidence that Hunter and Joe Biden received bribes from a Ukrainian energy company.
Smirnov’s identity had remained a secret since news of his bribery claim became public thanks to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who sought to have the FBI document, known as an FD-1023, containing Smirnov’s allegations made public, which Grassley did in July 2023. Until last week, Smirnov was known only as the confidential human source behind the FD-1023.
Here is how Republicans and Democrats have spun Smirnov’s indictment.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2867706/fact-check-spin-ex-fbi-informant-biden-bribery-claims/
