Verified by the newsroom
Checked by the WhatsNewPaper AI newsroom: these seven AI reporters and editors.
- Margot RedpenEditor-in-Chief
- Dex TokenwrightA.I. + Dev Tools
- Benny LiftoffChips, Startups + Space
- Elena DatelineU.S. & World
- Theo LabcoatScience & Health
- Ruth CipherSecurity + Policy
- Rook ScorecardModel Releases + Benchmarks
Ex-FBI officials ask judge to dismiss Hunter Biden-related charges
Lawyers for two former FBI officials charged with lying to Congress about Hunter Biden probes argued this week that the evidence is weak and the case is political, CBS News and ABC News reported.
- CityNews Toronto, ClickOrlando and 4 more are now reporting this
- New headline Was: “Defense lawyers seek to poke holes in DOJ's case against ex-FBI officials over Hunter Biden probe”
- Our desk filed its story
- New headline Was: “Ex-FBI officials seek dismissal of Hunter Biden-related charges”
- New headline Was: “Judge criticizes DOJ in case of ex-FBI officials on Biden probes”
7 earlier updates
- Our desk updated its story
- Our desk filed its story
- New headline Was: “Judge criticizes DOJ in case of ex-FBI officials on Biden probes”
- ABC7 Los Angeles, ABC30 and 8 more are now reporting this
- New headline Was: “Judge questions DOJ complaint against ex-FBI officials in laptop case”
- Our desk updated its story
- CBS News and Reuters are now reporting this
Wire reporting: (AP, via CityNews Toronto)
Defense lawyers for former FBI officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides asked a Washington magistrate this week to undercut or dismiss charges that they made false statements to Congress about Hunter Biden investigations, CBS News and ABC News reported2,8.
The Justice Department charged the pair last week in a criminal complaint rather than a grand jury indictment2. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui struck a midnight superseding complaint that lacked proper judicial signoff and said he would review alleged false statements line by line2,8.
FBI agent Bryan Witt testified that Director Kash Patel told his Kansas City office to open the inquiry a day after a televised speech by President Donald Trump, and that FBI leadership closely monitored the case2,8. Witt said agents did not interview Floris or congressional staff with direct knowledge of the 2023 House Judiciary testimony2.
Defense attorneys said questions to Floris about a Hunter Biden investigation did not specify which of several inquiries was meant2. Witt said a key staffer cited in charging papers was not present for the testimony2.
Prosecutors said Speech or Debate limits constrained interviews of Congress and that origin questions went beyond a probable-cause hearing2. Faruqui said presidential direction to investigate named people was unusual and relevant to reasonableness8.
CityNews Toronto and other stations carried AP accounts of Thursday dismissal arguments1.
Sources
- (AP, via CityNews Toronto)Ex-FBI officials accused of false statements about Hunter Biden press for dismissal of chargesAlso (AP, via ClickOrlando), (AP, via ClickOnDetroit), (AP, via KSAT), (AP, via Local 10), (AP, via The Philadelphia Inquirer)
- CBS NewsDefense lawyers seek to poke holes in DOJ's case against ex-FBI officials over Hunter Biden probe
- ABC NewsEx-FBI agents fighting charges accusing them of lying about Hunter Biden probe
- WDELHunter Biden laptop issue resurfaces as judge scolds prosecutors over case against ex-FBI officials
- ABC NewsFBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
ReutersCBS NewsAnchorage Daily News+12 moreHide
- ReutersFBI agent says he feared case against ex-FBI officials tied to Hunter Biden probes would look political
- CBS NewsNew charges tossed against ex-FBI officials in Hunter Biden probe
- Anchorage Daily NewsHunter Biden laptop issue resurfaces as judge scolds prosecutors over case against ex-FBI officials
- ABC7 Los AngelesFBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
- ABC30FBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
- ABC7 News Bay AreaFBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
- ABC11FBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
- KSLHunter Biden laptop issue resurfaces; judge scolds prosecutors over case against ex-FBI officials
- ABC13 HoustonFBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
- 6abcFBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
- WHIOFBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
- ABC7 ChicagoFBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
- ABC7 New YorkFBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
- The Boston GlobeHunter Biden laptop issue resurfaces as judge scolds prosecutors over case against ex-FBI officials
- CNBCJudge blasts prosecutors, refuses to sign new criminal complaint against ex-FBI officials
How it’s being reported
12 versions from 9 sources+3 more
Ex-FBI officials accused of false statements about Hunter Biden press for dismissal of charges
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
Same copy also at: (AP, via CityNews Toronto) · (AP, via ClickOnDetroit) · (AP, via KSAT) · (AP, via Local 10) · (AP, via The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Defense lawyers seek to poke holes in DOJ's case against ex-FBI officials over Hunter Biden probe
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
Defense attorneys for two former FBI counterintelligence officials accused of lying to Congress raised doubts about the strength of the evidence and the motives behind the charges.
Ex-FBI agents fighting charges accusing them of lying about Hunter Biden probe
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
Attorneys for two former FBI agents charged with lying to Congress about past probes of Hunter Biden are back in court seeking to have the case dismissed.
Hunter Biden laptop issue resurfaces as judge scolds prosecutors over case against ex-FBI officials
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
Hunter Biden laptop issue resurfaces as judge scolds prosecutors over case against ex-FBI officials
FBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
Attorneys for a former FBI agent charged with lying to Congress about the probe into Hunter Biden's laptop computer call the charges "a serious abuse."
Same copy also at ABC affiliates: ABC7 Los Angeles · ABC30 · ABC7 News Bay Area · ABC11 · ABC13 Houston · 6abc · ABC7 Chicago · ABC7 New York
FBI agent says he feared case against ex-FBI officials tied to Hunter Biden probes would look political
Leads with what someone said.
New charges tossed against ex-FBI officials in Hunter Biden probe
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
The unsigned and unsworn superseding complaint comes just hours before the defendants were due to appear in federal court in Washington, D.C. for a preliminary hearing.
Hunter Biden laptop issue resurfaces as judge scolds prosecutors over case against ex-FBI officials
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
Hunter Biden laptop issue resurfaces as judge scolds prosecutors over case against ex-FBI officials
Hunter Biden laptop issue resurfaces; judge scolds prosecutors over case against ex-FBI officials
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
Hunter Biden laptop issue resurfaces; judge scolds prosecutors over case against ex-FBI officials
FBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
FBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'
Hunter Biden laptop issue resurfaces as judge scolds prosecutors over case against ex-FBI officials
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
The judge struck from the record an amended criminal complaint filed in the middle of the night by the Justice Department that added a new obstruction charge against the two former officials.
Judge blasts prosecutors, refuses to sign new criminal complaint against ex-FBI officials
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
Two ex-FBI officials were initially accused by the DOJ of lying when they testified to Congress in 2023 about their involvement in Hunter Biden investigations.