An FBI informant who aided in the investigation of the Biden family’s ties to Burisma Corp. faces up to 25 years in prison after being arrested for allegedly spreading false information. In a 14 February accusation, Special Counsel David Weiss levied two charges of false statement and one count of establishing a false and fraudulent record against 43-year-old Alexander Smirnov.
While returning to the United States from a brief trip abroad, Smirnov was apprehended by police at Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport. He was taken into custody without any problems and later that day had a brief appearance before a judge in a federal court. The Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump will continue to hold Smirnov while his judicial proceedings progress.
A public official and his son were the subjects of a fraudulent complaint that Smirnov allegedly filed during the 2020 campaign, according to court documents. They are named as Joe Biden, the president, and Hunter Biden, his son, in a released FBI FD 1023 form.
Smirnov informed the intelligence agency in 2017 that he discussed Burisma’s plans for the US market with company leaders. Additionally, he brought up the fact that Hunter Biden was a director of the company at that period. Having said that, everyone knew that already.
Smirnov significantly stepped up his accusations in 2020, suddenly revealing new details about a series of alleged meetings with Burisma executives from 2015 through 2016. The informant told authorities that leaders from the Ukrainian gas company confirmed they had only put Hunter Biden on their board to “protect [Burisma], through his dad, from all kinds of problems.”
Smirnov also alleged — without providing evidence — that Burisma leaders paid both Biden men at least $5 million for these protections that same year.
In 2023, the informant’s accusations were made public, sparking a heated controversy over whether then-President Joe Biden was using his position for personal benefit. The publication of Smirnov’s unredacted FD 1023 forms was a demand from Republican leaders who wanted to know if the president was really involved and, if so, to what extent.
When House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced an impeachment inquiry focused on the same claims on September 12, he cited intelligence from “a trusted FBI informant” who accused the president and his son of taking bribes. New information suggests he was, in fact, referring to Alexander Smirnov.
