DOJ Charges Former FBI Officials for Lying to Congress
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro charged former FBI officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides for allegedly lying to Congress about investigations into Hunter Biden's laptop.
The United States Department of Justice charged former FBI officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides on October 23, 2026, for allegedly providing materially false information to Congress. Both individuals served as leaders of the now-dissolved Foreign Influence Task Force (FITF), which tracked foreign election influence until its dissolution in February 2025.
Prosecutors allege that during 2023 testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Benavides falsely claimed he learned of the FBI's possession of Hunter Biden's laptop via Wikipedia. Floris is accused of falsely denying knowledge of Hunter Biden being a subject of task force discussions. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that documentary evidence contradicts these claims, asserting the officials attempted to conceal the FITF's engagement with the probes and impede congressional oversight.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the charges, which were filed via criminal complaint. U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui noted that filing such charges by complaint rather than a grand jury is rare, particularly given the age of the testimony. Defense attorneys characterized the prosecution as politically motivated, highlighting that the charges were filed ten days before the November 3 midterm elections. The case is part of a broader effort by Patel to scrutinize past bureau episodes.
