Special Counsel David Weiss accused Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant, of lying about the relationship between U.S. President Joe Biden and his son with Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy firm. Smirnov, 43, was arrested upon his return to the United States at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The charges against him included lying and falsifying records.

According to the indictment, Smjsonov misled the FBI, claiming talks over bribing Joe Biden had occurred in meetings with Burisma. However, the indictment argues that such meetings relate to Smirnov's business pitches to Burisma, not bribery talks.

Congressional Republicans had previously aired Smirnov's allegations in their impeachment inquiry against the president, regarding him as a credible source. They'd also gotten their hands on FBI memos about his claims and released them to the public. However, in this case, they are being used against Smirnov in the case.

Attorney Abbe Lowell, representing Hunter Biden, said this indictment of Smirnov testifies to their prior warning that Republicans were duped into falsely attacking the Biden family. " House Oversight Chair James Comer said the evidence they have gathered regarding Biden does 'not just' relate to Smirnov's claims but rather a 'broad array' of evidence, including bank records and witness testimony suggesting Joe Biden's involvement in family business deals.