Federal judge has approved a request to postpone the trial of Alexander Smirnov, an FBI informant accused of fabricating a bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. The trial, initially slated to commence on April 23, will now commence on December 3, 2024, post the 2024 election, as per U.S. District Judge Wright’s ruling.
Mr. Smirnov was revealed earlier this year as an undercover FBI informant who relayed allegations to the bureau regarding purported bribery activities at a Ukrainian gas company, Burisma Holdings, involving then-Vice President Joe Biden and his son. He alleged that Burisma officials confessed to paying $5 million each to the Bidens for assistance, including thwarting an investigation by Ukraine’s then-prosecutor general.
Special Counsel David Weiss asserts that Mr. Smirnov concocted these bribery allegations against the Biden family, leading to his arrest upon arrival at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas in February. He faces charges of making false statements and creating a false record.
The joint request for the trial delay cites the potential involvement of materials governed by the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA), with Mr. Smirnov’s legal team seeking security clearances to access classified evidence.
Prior to his arrest, Mr. Smirnov’s allegations had fueled a Republican-led impeachment inquiry, focusing on accusations of influence peddling by President Biden and his family. The investigation centered on Mr. Biden’s role in advocating for the removal of Ukraine’s prosecutor general while serving on Burisma’s board.
The indictment outlines Mr. Smirnov’s 2017 disclosure to the FBI regarding Burisma’s interest in acquiring a U.S. company and going public on a U.S.-based stock exchange, omitting the bribery claims. Prosecutors contend that Mr. Smirnov only disclosed the bribery allegations in June 2020, during President Biden’s presidential campaign.
President Biden has consistently denied involvement in his family’s business affairs and defended his actions regarding the Ukrainian prosecutor’s removal as consistent with U.S. policy objectives.
Democrats in Congress view Mr. Smirnov’s indictment as a setback for Republican-led efforts to impeach the President, characterizing it as a failure of the impeachment inquiry.
Mr. Smirnov could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The trial delay ensures adequate time for the defense to prepare effectively and maintains continuity of counsel for Mr. Smirnov.
