A California federal judge ruled Monday Alexander Smirnov—the former FBI informant accused of fabricating stories about bribes paid to President Joe Biden and his son Hunter—will remain in jail as he awaits trial, over concerns he would flee the country, multiple outlets reported.
U.S. District Judge Otis Wright issued the ruling on Monday, after issuing a warrant to re-arrest the former FBI informant—who was previously released with GPS tracking—over flight risk concerns.
Smirnov, 43, who is a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, pleaded not guilty during Monday’s hearing, according to CNN.
Smirnov was charged on Feb. 15 with making false statements to the FBI and obstruction for allegedly falsifying claims about the Bidens’ involvement with Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company.
Richard Schonfeld, one of Smirnov’s attorney’s, did not immediately respond to Forbes’ requests for comment.
25 years. That’s the maximum prison sentence Smirnov faces if he is convicted, according to a release from Special Counsel David Weiss. Federal criminal defendants are usually sentenced to far shorter prison terms than the legal maximum.
Smirnov was arrested and charged on Feb. 15 after returning from a trip abroad. Prosecutors allege Smirnov lied in 2020 about being in contact with Burisma Holdings executives years prior, who allegedly told him Burisma paid $5 million to both Joe and Hunter Biden to “take care of” an investigation that was being conducted into the company. His allegations against the Bidens have been crucial to the GOP-led House impeachment inquiry against the president, though Smirnov’s allegations have never been verified by the FBI. Multiple individuals—including the president’s brother, James Biden—have maintained in testimonies that President Biden has never been involved with or benefited from the family’s business endeavors.
Court documents filed Tuesday alleged Smirnov had contact with a number of Russian intelligence officials, who were ostensibly involved in giving him a story about the president’s son.
Who Is Alexander Smirnov? FBI Informant Helped Spark Biden Impeachment Probe—And Could End It (Forbes)
Former Biden FBI Informant Arrested For Alleged False Statements (Forbes)