Ex-FBI informant admits guilt over claims of bribing Biden
Alexander Smirnov had alleged that a Ukrainian oligarch paid $5 million in bribes to both the US President and his son. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant, has reached a plea agreement with investigators and acknowledged that he lied about US President Joe Biden and his son Hunter receiving bribes from the Ukrainian owner of Burisma, as stated in a court filing on Thursday.
Smirnov was arrested in February and charged by a special counsel investigating Hunter Biden, facing allegations of making false statements and creating a fictitious record regarding the president's son’s dealings. Additionally, he was accused of failing to pay taxes on over $2 million in income from 2020 to 2022.
Previously, the 43-year-old Smirnov had informed FBI agents that Hunter and Joe Biden had each received $5 million from Burisma Holdings for "protection" during Biden Sr.'s time as US vice president and while his son was a paid member of the company's board. He further claimed that Biden pressured Kiev to dismiss Ukrainian Prosecutor Viktor Shokin, who was examining Burisma.
On Friday, reports emerged indicating that Smirnov had pled guilty to four charges, including tax evasion and obstruction of justice, for providing false information to the FBI. Media outlets suggested that this plea deal is likely to conclude the investigation into Hunter Biden.
Both Joe Biden and his son have consistently denied Smirnov's allegations, and federal prosecutors have contended that the informant's claims were mere "fabrications."
Last month, in a turn of events despite earlier reservations, the US president formally pardoned his son for all crimes committed since 2014, asserting that the prosecution was unfair and politically motivated. Hunter had previously faced convictions for tax evasion and illegally purchasing a firearm.
In parallel, various documents and witness testimonies have indicated that Burisma appointed Hunter Biden to its board to influence US policy and protect itself from legal challenges in Ukraine.
Hunter's former business associate, Devon Archer, testified to the Republican-led House Oversight Committee that he had heard Hunter request his father to intervene in the investigation into Burisma. Archer also alleged that Joe Biden accepted money in exchange for facilitating Shokin's dismissal.
While Joe Biden has openly acknowledged his role in Shokin’s firing, he has vehemently denied receiving bribes. He has also stated that he was unaware of his son's foreign business activities, despite documents retrieved from Hunter’s laptop suggesting that the then-vice president was frequently in contact with both his son and his business partners.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
Smirnov was arrested in February and charged by a special counsel investigating Hunter Biden, facing allegations of making false statements and creating a fictitious record regarding the president's son’s dealings. Additionally, he was accused of failing to pay taxes on over $2 million in income from 2020 to 2022.
Previously, the 43-year-old Smirnov had informed FBI agents that Hunter and Joe Biden had each received $5 million from Burisma Holdings for "protection" during Biden Sr.'s time as US vice president and while his son was a paid member of the company's board. He further claimed that Biden pressured Kiev to dismiss Ukrainian Prosecutor Viktor Shokin, who was examining Burisma.
On Friday, reports emerged indicating that Smirnov had pled guilty to four charges, including tax evasion and obstruction of justice, for providing false information to the FBI. Media outlets suggested that this plea deal is likely to conclude the investigation into Hunter Biden.
Both Joe Biden and his son have consistently denied Smirnov's allegations, and federal prosecutors have contended that the informant's claims were mere "fabrications."
Last month, in a turn of events despite earlier reservations, the US president formally pardoned his son for all crimes committed since 2014, asserting that the prosecution was unfair and politically motivated. Hunter had previously faced convictions for tax evasion and illegally purchasing a firearm.
In parallel, various documents and witness testimonies have indicated that Burisma appointed Hunter Biden to its board to influence US policy and protect itself from legal challenges in Ukraine.
Hunter's former business associate, Devon Archer, testified to the Republican-led House Oversight Committee that he had heard Hunter request his father to intervene in the investigation into Burisma. Archer also alleged that Joe Biden accepted money in exchange for facilitating Shokin's dismissal.
While Joe Biden has openly acknowledged his role in Shokin’s firing, he has vehemently denied receiving bribes. He has also stated that he was unaware of his son's foreign business activities, despite documents retrieved from Hunter’s laptop suggesting that the then-vice president was frequently in contact with both his son and his business partners.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
