Federal judge dismisses case against former FBI officials over Hunter Biden testimony
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U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui threw out the criminal case alleging two ex-FBI officials lied to Congress about the Hunter Biden laptop investigation, citing insufficient evidence and procedural concerns.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui dismissed a criminal case against former senior FBI officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides on Monday, ruling that prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to proceed. The judge also criticized the Department of Justice for filing an amended complaint without prior court approval, a procedural step he said he had never seen before.
Faris noted that the case appeared rushed and overly political, and expressed concern that it was filed close to the upcoming midterm elections. He said, "I will not bury my head in the sand and pretend I cannot read a calendar," and added that he would not "lobotomize" himself by ignoring the timing.
The indictment alleged that Floris and Benavides misled Congress in 2023 about their knowledge of and involvement in an investigation into a laptop reportedly dropped off at a Delaware tech shop in 2019 by Hunter Biden. An FBI agent testified that the investigation into the two officials began in July of the previous year under the direction of FBI Director Kash Patel.
While the Justice Department may still seek a grand jury indictment, Faruqui's early dismissal and his concerns about the case's handling pose challenges for further prosecution.