Judge Dismisses DOJ Case Against Former FBI Officials in Hunter Biden Probe

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a criminal complaint against two former high-ranking FBI officials who had been accused of lying to Congress during its investigation into Hunter Biden. U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui ruled that the government failed to establish probable cause that Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides committed a crime when testifying before the House Judiciary Committee in 2023.

During his bench ruling in Washington, Judge Faruqui delivered a scathing rebuke of federal prosecutors and current leadership, accusing the Department of Justice of political weaponization. The judge noted that the case was rushed ahead of the midterm elections and described the prosecution as a flawed effort lacking direct evidence or clear motive.

"What has transpired here cannot be described as anything other than weaponization," Faruqui stated from the bench, criticizing the timing of the charges. He pointedly added that he would not "pretend I cannot read a calendar" regarding the proximity of the indictment to the upcoming elections.

The criminal complaint had alleged that Floris and Benavides misled lawmakers about their roles on the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force and their knowledge concerning Hunter Biden’s laptop computer. However, Faruqui concluded that prosecutors failed to demonstrate that either official made knowingly false statements or intended to deceive Congress.

The judge also criticized the DOJ for unusual procedural maneuvers, including attempting to add an obstruction charge directly to the public docket without prior judicial approval. Faruqui stated that the "slapdash job" by prosecutors and public statements by top officials would likely deter qualified investigators from joining the bureau and potentially threaten Congress's ability to obtain valuable future testimony.

Attorneys for Floris and Benavides welcomed the dismissal, praising the judge for carefully reviewing the evidence. Floris's lawyers called the prosecution a "politically-motivated smear campaign aimed at scoring political points before the midterm elections." Counsel for Benavides described his client as an innocent patriot and public servant who should not have faced such accusations.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department stated that the agency disagrees with the magistrate's ruling, arguing that it suggests high-ranking government officials are immune from accountability. The DOJ added that it is evaluating all options while maintaining that the ongoing investigation is guided strictly by facts and the law rather than politics.