Republicans Question FBI Handling of Key Biden Informant in Probe Against President

Republican leaders in the House are raising new concerns about the FBI’s use of a now Biden informant in their ongoing investigation targeting President Joe Biden. Top Republicans on the Judiciary and Oversight Committees have sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray seeking documents related to the bureau’s vetting and handling of Alexander Smirnov.

Smirnov, a Russian national who had been a paid FBI source for 14 years, was recently charged with making false statements for fabricating claims that Ukrainian energy firm Burisma had paid millions in bribes to Hunter and Joe Biden. Prosecutors say Smirnov lied about meeting with a Burisma executive in 2015 and invented the bribery story. The Biden informant’s testimony was central to the GOP’s impeachment case against the president.

Questions Raised About FBI’s Reliance on Informant

In their letter, the Republican committee leaders question how the FBI presented Smirnov as a “highly credible” source. When providing his claims to Congress, given he has now been charged with making things up. They are demanding records on any “FBI wrongdoing or inaccurate reporting” related to their use of the Biden informant. The lawmakers say the case highlights the need for scrutiny of the FBI’s confidential informant program.

The FBI has until mid-March to reply. It remains to be seen if they can satisfy concerns about their vetting of Smirnov. And reliance on his now discredited allegations against Joe Biden. The letter signifies Republicans plan to continue investigating the president over his son’s past business dealings abroad.