Former FBI informant accused of fabricating Biden claims agrees to plead guilty

A former FBI informant has agreed to plead guilty to four federal charges after being accused of falsifying statements that in part spurred a GOP congressional investigation into the Biden family, according to newly filed court documents.

Alexander Smirnov’s deal, which must be accepted by a federal judge, would have him plead guilty to causing the creation of a fictitious record in a federal investigation and three counts of tax evasion.

Prosecutors would recommend a sentence of between 48 and 72 months in prison, one year of supervised release and roughly $675,000 in restitution, the documents indicate.

Smirnov had relayed to the FBI that the head of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma told him he had paid both President Biden and his son Hunter Biden $5 million. The claims were false but became central to the congressional GOP probe of the Bidens.

In the new documents, Smirnov admitted to providing “false derogatory information” about the president and his son.

Special Counsel David Weiss originally indicted Smirnov in February on two charges related to his claims to the FBI. The plea deal comes weeks after Weiss brought a second indictment charging Smirnov with tax crimes for allegedly concealing millions in income earned between 2020 and 2022.

The plea deal was signed on Tuesday and docketed with the court on Thursday. The parties asked that Smirnov be sentenced within 30 days after the judge accepts the deal.

The Hill has reached out to Smirnov’s attorneys for additional comment.

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