@japdmedia26: Washington, D.C., USA — A federal magistrate judge has dismissed the criminal case against two former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about their knowledge of investigations involving Hunter Biden and his laptop. Judge Zia Faruqui dismissed the complaint against Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides on November 2, ruling that prosecutors had not established sufficient probable cause to move forward. In his decision, Faruqui strongly criticized the Justice Department's handling of the case, including the timing of the investigation and its connection to the upcoming midterm elections. “What has transpired here cannot be described as anything other than weaponization,” Faruqui said. The two former officials were charged on October 23, 2026, over statements they made during House Judiciary Committee interviews in 2023. Prosecutors alleged that Floris downplayed her involvement in discussions about Hunter Biden while working with the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force. Benavides was accused of misleading lawmakers by claiming he learned about the FBI's possession of Hunter Biden's laptop through Wikipedia in 2023. During a three-day preliminary hearing, defense attorneys challenged the government's evidence and questioned whether their clients had knowingly made false statements. FBI Special Agent Bryan Witt testified about the investigation, including its origins and the involvement of FBI Director Kash Patel. The judge also criticized prosecutors for submitting an amended criminal complaint containing additional charges without first obtaining the required judicial approval. Faruqui questioned why the Justice Department pursued the case shortly before the November midterm elections, even though the statements under investigation were made in 2023. The original charges have now been dismissed, but the ruling does not necessarily end the prosecution. The Justice Department could still seek a grand jury indictment against the two former officials. The case has renewed debate over the FBI's handling of Hunter Biden's laptop ahead of the 2020 presidential election and the role of federal agencies in politically sensitive investigations. #NikkiFloris #BradleyBenavides #ZiaFaruqui #WashingtonDCUSA #japd

JAPD

Open In TikTok:

Region: US

Monday 02 November 2026 18:35:07 GMT