Judge criticizes Justice Department’s handling of ex-FBI officials’ charges over Hunter Biden investigation
The judge said prosecutors used an unsigned overnight filing to add a charge and bypass normal court review.
- On Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Zia Faruqui struck an amended criminal complaint filed overnight by the Justice Department against former FBI officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, scolding prosecutors for the unorthodox, unsigned filing.
- Floris and Benavides, former leaders of the FBI Foreign Influence Task Force, were charged last week with lying to Congress about their knowledge of the Hunter Biden laptop probe. The task force was disbanded in February 2025 by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
- Faruqui questioned the government's tactics, noting that "rare charges" involving 2020 facts are typically handled by grand jury indictment rather than complaint. Defense attorneys called the midnight filing "a serious abuse of the criminal charging process."
- While the judge rejected the new obstruction charge, the original false statements case remains active. "It is not our court's practice," Faruqui said, demanding answers from the Justice Department regarding their procedural choices.
- This prosecution coincides with midterms just 10 days away, marking another high-profile case where the Justice Department has struggled to secure grand jury indictments in the nation's capital. Critics argue the timing suggests political motivation.
118 Articles
118 Articles
Judge Tosses Case Against FBI Agents In Laptop Probe
CBS News reports: A federal magistrate judge on Tuesday rejected the Justice Department’s 11th-hour attempt to file new criminal charges against two former FBI counterintelligence officials accused of lying to Congress about their role in the Hunter Biden laptop probe. During an often-tense hourslong court hearing, the FBI agent assigned to the investigation also acknowledged … The post Judge Tosses Case Against FBI Agents In Laptop Probe appear…
KLBJ-AM - Austin, TX
Federal judge rejects new obstruction charge against former FBI officials in Hunter Biden case
A federal magistrate presiding in Washington rejected a last-minute attempt by government lawyers to expand criminal accusations against two former Federal Bureau of Investigation officials connected to congressional testimony regarding Hunter Biden. U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui The post Federal judge rejects new obstruction charge against former FBI officials in Hunter Biden case appeared first on KLBJ-AM - Austin, TX.
Judge Rebukes DOJ Over Unsigned Complaint Against Former FBI Agents, Rejects New Charging Document
Internewscast Internewscast President Donald Trump listens to Attorney General Todd Blanche during a roundtable… This Post: Judge Rebukes DOJ Over Unsigned Complaint Against Former FBI Agents, Rejects New Charging Document first appeared on Internewscast
Trump Justice Dept. Adds Charge Against Ex-FBI Officials Who Worked On Hunter Biden Laptop Case – But Judge Refuses To Sign Off
Federal prosecutors filed new charges overnight against two former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about the bureau’s investigations into Hunter Biden, but a judge refused to approve the move at a court hearing on Tuesday. The case revives the long-running fight over Hunter Biden’s laptop, which became a flashpoint of the 2020 campaign […] The post Trump Justice Dept. Adds Charge Against Ex-FBI Officials Who Worked On Hunter Biden Lap…
Judge berates DOJ attorney in court over new charge filed against former FBI officials
The judge tossed a new obstruction charge against Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides and told the Justice Department attorney that “everything is a sideshow on top of a sideshow” in this case.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 68% of the sources are Center
![[your]NEWS](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroundnews.b-cdn.net%2Finterests%2Ffb6dc495f74049f513563c33352175eaa0ecd509.jpg%3Fwidth%3D60&w=128&q=75)
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
