A former FBI informant who fabricated damaging claims about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden was sentenced to six years in prison on Wednesday. The case sheds light on Republican efforts to orchestrate a baseless narrative in retaliation for the impeachments of former President Donald Trump.
Alexander Smirnov, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, pleaded guilty in December to multiple charges, including making false statements that helped fuel a partisan investigation into the Bidens. Smirnov’s fabricated claims were central to a Republican-led probe, which sought to create the illusion of corruption within the Biden family. In addition to falsifying information to the FBI, Smirnov also admitted to evading millions in taxes, pleading guilty to separate charges of tax fraud.
Smirnov claimed he was informed by Burisma’s head that both Bidens received a $5 million bribe—a statement that was quickly debunked. The false information provided by Smirnov became a cornerstone of the House GOP’s ongoing investigation into the Bidens.
The Justice Department confirmed that the allegations Smirnov presented to the FBI in June 2020 were completely fabricated. Smirnov’s claims were not just an attempt to malign the Bidens but appeared to serve a political agenda, aiming to punish the sitting president for the impeachment proceedings against Trump.
Smirnov, arrested in February 2024, will receive credit for time already served, which includes the period following his February arrest. Special Counsel David Weiss, the same prosecutor who handled Hunter Biden’s tax and gun charges, was also responsible for bringing charges against Smirnov.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court has recommended Smirnov for consideration in a Bureau of Prisons drug rehabilitation program. His conviction further underscores the lengths to which some Republicans have gone in fabricating evidence to support unfounded political narratives.
