Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant, is set to appear for trial in April on charges of lying to federal investigators about President Joe Biden.
Judge Otis Wright of the Central District of California scheduled a jury trial in the case to begin on April 23 after deciding on Monday that Smirnov will remain in custody while his charges are pending.
Special counsel David Weiss charged Smirnov, who had been working as a paid informant for the FBI for years, with making false statements and creating false records in his communications with the bureau. In his indictment, filed Feb. 14, Weiss accused Smirnov of pushing inaccurate narratives to the FBI after meeting with Russian intelligence officials.
“Despite repeated admonishments that he must provide truthful information to the FBI and that he must not fabricate evidence, the Defendant provided false derogatory information to the FBI” about Joe Biden and his son Hunter, Weiss wrote.
Weiss specified that Smirnov allegedly fabricated bribery allegations against the president and his son that Smirnov memorialized on an FBI form known as an FD-1023.
House Republicans in Congress had heavily promoted the allegations upon learning of them and used them to bolster the GOP-led impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden. Democrats have since seized on Smirnov’s charges and called for Republicans to end the inquiry, accusing them of basing it on Smirnov’s alleged falsehoods. Rep. James Comer (R-KY), who is leading the inquiry, opened his investigation into the Biden family business dealings long before learning of the FD-1023 allegations, however.
Smirnov, for his part, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and has also asked Wright to release him with conditions, such as staying under house arrest, while he awaits trial, according to court filings. Weiss countered that Smirnov was already an alleged liar, based on the charges against him, and that he was therefore a flight risk. Smirnov also has few ties to the United States and access to millions of dollars that could facilitate him absconding, Weiss said.
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Wright determined that Smirnov’s case is not of the “garden variety” and that the defendant should be detained.
Smirnov’s attorneys have indicated they will appeal Wright’s decision to keep their client detained.
