Ex-FBI Agents Face New Charges in Hunter Biden Laptop Investigation

Two former FBI officials have been indicted on new obstruction charges related to their handling of the investigation into Hunter Biden's laptop, according to filings from the Justice Department under President Donald Trump.

Nikki Floris, 46, and Bradley Benavides, 56, were charged with obstruction of a congressional proceeding and lying to lawmakers. These new counts are part of a superseding indictment filed late Monday night, adding to previous charges of allegedly making false statements.

The charges stem from sworn testimony the agents gave to Congress in 2023 as part of a Republican-led probe into President Joe Biden's son. Floris and Benavides reportedly denied having details about the FBI's investigation into the laptop during their testimonies before the House Judiciary Committee. Benavides allegedly claimed he learned about the laptop from Wikipedia shortly before his testimony.

Last week, the agents were initially charged by criminal complaint with lying to Congress about their roles on the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force and their involvement in the Hunter Biden investigation. The committee publicly stated on X, formerly Twitter, after the initial charges, "The cover-up didn't work."

The laptop, abandoned at a Delaware repair shop and later obtained by former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, became a significant point of contention during the 2020 presidential election after its contents were reported by the New York Post. Hunter Biden was later convicted of federal tax offenses and a felony gun charge, though he was pardoned by his father.

The timing of the charges, unsealed just days before the midterm elections, has raised concerns about potential politicization of the judicial system. Attorneys for the former agents questioned why federal prosecutors delayed bringing charges for alleged false statements made over three years prior. The magistrate judge described the process as "strange."