Former FBI Officials Charged With Lying to Congress About Hunter Biden Laptop Investigation

Two former senior FBI officials have been taken into custody on charges of allegedly lying to Congress about their involvement in FBI investigations related to Hunter Biden's laptop, according to the US Department of Justice. 

The Details: FBI Director Kash Patel announced the allegations against Nikki Cole Floris, 46, and Bradley Benavides, 56, who surrendered to authorities Friday after a criminal complaint accused each of making materially false statements to the House Judiciary Committee during interviews in 2023. Prosecutors allege both testified that the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force was not involved in the Hunter Biden investigations. Patel said on X that "documentary evidence, contemporaneous communications, and witness accounts contradict their testimony."

Both face one count under a federal law prohibiting knowingly and willfully making false statements in matters within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch. 

The Complaint: According to a DOJ press release, the charges stem from an investigation into the Foreign Influence Task Force, which was created to help protect US elections from foreign influence operations. The criminal complaint alleges Floris and Benavides falsely minimized or denied their knowledge of and involvement in FBI investigations involving Hunter Biden when questioned by congressional investigators in 2023. The DOJ alleges Floris "routinely" discussed the Hunter Biden investigations with other FBI officials over the course of more than a year. 

About The Officials: Floris and Benavides were leaders of the now-dissolved FBI Foreign Influence Task Force, or FITF, according to the DOJ press release. Floris served as a deputy assistant director from mid-2019 through mid-2022, while Benavides was the task force's section chief through the 2020 election. The case revives controversy surrounding Hunter Biden's laptop, which became a major political issue during the final weeks of the 2020 presidential election. Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement: "The weaponization of government goes against the interest of the American people, and public servants, including federal law enforcement officials, cannot lie to Congress and get away with it."

How The Media Covered It: Some media outlets on the left noted that the charges were filed less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. CNN (Lean Left bias) highlighted Republican criticism of the FBI's handling of the Hunter Biden investigation and referenced broader "deep state" narratives promoted by some conservatives. The Washington Examiner (Lean right) emphasized prosecutors' allegations that the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force was involved in Hunter Biden-related investigations and that Floris and Benavides sought to conceal that role. 

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