Two former FBI officials have been charged with lying to Congress about their alleged involvement in the investigation of Hunter Biden’s laptop, days before the 2026 midterm election.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Nikki Floris, 46, and Bradley Benavides, 56, surrendered on arrest warrants after being accused of misrepresenting their roles on the Foreign Influence Task Force during the 2020 election.
Each faces one count of lying to Congress. They made their first court appearances and are due to return for a hearing on Tuesday.
Prosecutors allege one of the former officials claimed to have learned about the inquiry into the laptop through Wikipedia. Pirro said there was evidence suggesting both had been involved in shaping the public narrative surrounding Hunter Biden’s laptop before the election.
“Lying to Congress by anyone strikes at the heart of our democratic system, but when senior FBI agents lie to Congress believing they are above the law, it’s time to bring the hammer of justice down on them,” Pirro said.
An attorney for Floris denied any wrongdoing, saying the former official was a “patriot” who had been falsely accused “on the say-so of politicians”.
