A judge has ordered former FBI informant Alexander Smirnoff to remain behind bars while awaiting trial. Smirnoff is accused of lying to investigators about the Biden family's business dealings, specifically claiming that Burisma executives in Ukraine hired Hunter Biden to gain protection from an investigation by then-Vice President Joe Biden, allegedly involving a $5 million payment to each. The Department of Justice (DOJ) refuted these claims, stating that Smirnoff fabricated the story.
During the court appearance, Smirnoff, appearing disheveled with an eye condition, was polite and compliant. His lawyers argued for his release, proposing private security and GPS tracking, but the judge denied the request citing concerns about Smirnoff being a flight risk. The DOJ highlighted Smirnoff's history of lying, including recent false claims about Russian hacking and his connections to foreign intelligence, particularly the Russians.
