Former FBI informant Alexander Smirnoff has been arrested and charged for lying about President Biden and his son Hunter Biden's involvement with the Ukrainian energy company, Burisma. Smirnoff's claims were a crucial part of the Republicans' allegations that President Biden benefited from his son's business dealings. The FBI alleges that Smirnoff provided false information, including suggesting that Joe Biden received $5 million and Hunter Biden received $5 million to assist Burisma while Joe Biden was vice president. The FBI now states that Smirnoff's story to them was a fabrication, and that it consisted of typical business meetings and contacts that occurred at a later date than claimed, all with the intent of pitching his own products and services to Burisma.
Smirnoff is facing charges of false statements and creating a false and fictitious document, brought against him by David Weiss, a special counsel who has filed two separate cases involving Hunter Biden in Delaware and Los Angeles. Smirnoff gained notoriety as the individual who alleged that he was told by someone associated with Burisma that Joe Biden would receive $5 million for corrupt activities. He became a prominent figure on conservative media platforms, including Fox News, where his claims were extensively discussed and highlighted by various Republican politicians.
