Ex-FBI officials charged over Hunter Biden laptop investigation

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 04:38 · Archive

Two former FBI officials are due in court over charges they lied to Congress about investigations involving Hunter Biden's laptop.

Two former FBI officials, Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, are due in Washington's federal court on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing. They are charged with lying to Congress about their participation in investigations involving Hunter Biden's laptop.

The case accuses them of falsely playing down their knowledge about the laptop, which the Justice Department says Hunter Biden abandoned at a computer repair shop in 2019. The charges were announced on Friday.

The prosecution relates to a since-disbanded FBI task force set up to monitor foreign influence. Congressional Republicans have long criticised the task force, saying it attempted to discredit their investigations into the Biden family.

Defence lawyers are expected to challenge the case at the preliminary hearing. They are highlighting that the officials were charged via a criminal complaint signed by a magistrate judge rather than an indictment voted on by a grand jury, which lawyers have described as unusual.

How it is being reported

• Ex-FBI officials charged in the case about Hunter Biden's laptop are due back in courtTwo former FBI officials charged with lying to Congress about their participation in investigations involving Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, are due back in court.Clickorlando · 27 Oct, 04:08
• Ex-FBI officials charged in the case about Hunter Biden's laptop are due back in courtTwo former FBI officials charged with lying to Congress about their participation in investigations involving Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, are due back in court.News4Jax · 27 Oct, 04:08

In this story: Nikki Floris · Bradley Benavides · Hunter Biden · FBI · Justice Department · Washington

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem