Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant who made false claims about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, has been indicted on 10 tax-related charges. The indictment alleges that Smirnov received over $2 million in income from various sources between 2020 and 2022 and used that money to purchase luxury items for himself and his domestic partner. Smirnov, who had been a confidential source for the FBI since 2010, was indicted by David Weiss, the special counsel on the Hunter Biden case.
Before his indictment, Smirnov’s claims were said to be central to the Republican impeachment inquiry against President Biden. The president has denied any wrongdoing. Prosecutors revealed that Smirnov had claimed to have obtained some information from officials associated with Russian intelligence and was actively spreading lies that could impact U.S. elections after meeting with Russian intelligence officials in November 2023.
The indictment also stated that Russia had attempted to influence the 2020 U.S. elections by supporting Trump’s campaign and paying right-wing influencers. A trial for Smirnov’s false statements case is set to begin on January 8, 2025, as per an order issued by U.S. District Judge Otis Wright. The indictment against Smirnov highlights the complex web of foreign influence and misinformation campaigns that continue to impact American politics.
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