Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant, will continue to be held in jail as he awaits trial, following a ruling by a federal judge in California on Monday. During the hearing, Smirnov entered a not guilty plea to charges of lying about President Joe Biden’s family and their alleged involvement in Ukraine, including accusations of receiving bribes.
Smirnov, a 43-year-old dual US-Israeli citizen, is specifically charged with lying to his FBI handler and falsifying documents. The indictment alleges that he falsely claimed a Ukrainian energy company paid $5 million in bribes to both President Biden and his son Hunter.
Initially, a magistrate judge in Las Vegas, where Smirnov resides, had allowed him to leave jail under GPS monitoring. However, Smirnov was re-arrested shortly afterward during a meeting with his attorneys.
The decision to re-arrest Smirnov was detailed in an unsealed court order on Friday, where the judge, unsealed court order, mentioned concerns about possible attempts to facilitate Smirnov’s escape from the United States, without providing specific evidence or reasoning.
Prosecutors, led by special counsel David Weiss, argue that Smirnov’s numerous foreign contacts and access to substantial funds make him a flight risk. Smirnov’s defense has appealed his detention to a higher court, contending that the judge overstepped his authority by issuing a new arrest warrant without a hearing. The defense vehemently denies any involvement in facilitating Smirnov’s potential escape, stating that such allegations are baseless.
While Smirnov has not formally entered a plea, his lawyers assert that he intends to contest the charges. The case continues to unfold with legal battles over Smirnov’s detention and the pending trial on Ukraine-related allegations.
