Judge blocks case against former FBI officials in Biden laptop probe as DOJ faces sharp rebuke
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U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui dismissed the criminal case against two ex-FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about the Hunter Biden laptop investigation, saying the evidence was insufficient and the Justice Department's handling of the matter was deeply flawed.
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 continue. The judge also criticized the Department of Justice for submitting an amended complaint without prior court approval, a procedural step he said he had never seen before.
Faruqui said the case appeared rushed and overtly political, and raised concerns about its timing so 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.
Although the Justice Department may still seek a grand jury indictment, Faruqui's early dismissal and his criticism of the case's handling present major hurdles for any further prosecution.