Top line
There are lawyers requested A federal judge reconsidered his decision Tuesday to free Alexander Smirno — a former FBI source accused of making false claims against President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
Smirnov was accused of making false statements about Joe and Hunter Biden's business dealings. … [+]
Key facts
Prosecutors argued there was a “serious risk” Smirnov would flee if not detained, saying he had ties to “several foreign intelligence agencies” and planned to leave the United States two days after his arrest last week.
Smirnov has more than $6 million in liquid funds, according to prosecutors, and the former FBI source noted that he did not disclose the money for pretrial services.
Smirnov, who was released with GPS monitoring in Las Vegas on Tuesday, told Pretrial Services he had $1,500 in cash and only $5,000 in a personal checking account.
Prosecutors noted that Smirnov, an Israeli citizen, can go to the Israeli embassy and obtain a new passport at any time and cannot be stopped by pre-trial services. Filing.
Los Angeles County District Court Judge Otis Wright II will handle the restraining order.
Contra
Smirno's attorneys argued that his stay in Nevada was due to his close ties to the state, and prosecutors' allegations of undisclosed funds were false.
Tangent
Lawyers A New filing Smirnov admitted that “officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing” with the allegations against Hunter Biden.
Main background
Smirnov was arrested last week at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas after returning from a foreign trip, and the Justice Department said he had another foreign trip lined up. He was charged with making a false statement and creating a fictitious record of Biden's business activities, including falsely testifying that Biden had received a $5 million bribe from Ukrainian firm Burisma Holdings in exchange for protection from “all kinds of trouble.” The Republican allegations rocked the impeachment inquiry against the president. Smirnov's alleged claims were a major part of the impeachment inquiry and were deemed credible. CNN.
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Prosecutors say Russians 'engaged in sending a story' to key Biden impeachment witness about Hunter Biden (Forbes)
Ex-Biden FBI Informant Arrested for Alleged False Statements (Forbes)
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