Two former FBI officials are charged with lying to Congress about their role in the agency’s investigation into Hunter Biden’s laptop. The Trump administration announced the charges Friday, marking a new high-profile case as midterm elections approach.
The complaint alleges that Nicole Floris and Bradley Benavides, who worked for the FBI’s now-shuttered Foreign Influence Task Force, lied to the House Judiciary Committee in 2023. The case centers on their testimony about the FBI’s probes into Hunter Biden’s activities, including the infamous laptop left at a Delaware repair shop.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Justice Department officials described the charges as a pushback against what they called a ‘weaponization’ of government. The case could result in up to five years in prison for each defendant, though a grand jury must approve an indictment.
Senate Judiciary Chair Charles E. Grassley praised the charges, calling them a step toward accountability. The case follows recent criticism of the Trump administration’s actions, including a search warrant executed on Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home as midterms approach.