Federal Judge: DOJ Weaponized Hunter Biden Case

A federal court in Washington, D.C., dismissed criminal charges against two former FBI officials on Monday. The dismissal comes just days before the midterm elections. The case had accused the agents of lying to Congress about their knowledge of Hunter Biden’s laptop.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui read a ruling that criticized the Justice Department’s handling of the probe. He stated the investigation was rushed and driven by political intent. Faruqui called the action the “weaponization” of the Justice Department. He noted the charges were filed in the immediate run-up to Tuesday’s vote, which will determine control of Congress.

The complaint alleged that Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides falsely downplayed their knowledge of the laptop and related investigations during 2023 testimony. The laptop was found at a computer repair shop in Delaware in 2019. Faruqui found that prosecutors failed to prove the statements were intentionally false. He also found no evidence the two impeded the congressional investigation or had a motive to deceive.

Faruqui pointed to specific errors in the charging documents. He said the rush to charge led to critical mistakes. An FBI agent who worked on the case told the court the inquiry was a “witch hunt” and a “huge distraction.” The agent, Bryan Witt, said the investigation began one day after President Donald Trump made a speech about the 2020 election. FBI Director Kash Patel demanded constant updates, a step Witt described as unusual.

Faruqui questioned why the department used a criminal complaint instead of a grand jury indictment. A complaint is typically used when investigators need to take a defendant into custody quickly. Faruqui said it is self-evident the U.S. attorney’s office was avoiding a grand jury. He noted the department recently failed to secure an indictment against Cassidy Hutchinson in a separate case.

Floris’s lawyers called the prosecution a politically motivated smear campaign. They argued the charges were aimed at scoring points before the elections. The Justice Department said in a statement on X that it disagreed with the ruling and is evaluating its options. The department can still pursue an indictment despite the dismissal.

The two former officials led the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force. That unit was created during the first Trump administration and disbanded last year. Republicans in Congress had long criticized the task force, particularly after briefings on Russian disinformation in 2020.