Trump DOJ Files New Charges Against Ex-FBI Agents in Hunter Biden Laptop Probe

The Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has filed new charges against two former FBI officials accused of orchestrating a "cover-up" related to Hunter Biden's laptop. The former officials, Nikki Floris, 46, and Bradley Benavides, 56, face additional charges of obstruction and lying to Congress.

The superseding indictment, filed late Monday, includes allegations that the agents obstructed a congressional proceeding and provided false statements to lawmakers. These charges stem from sworn testimony they gave to the House Judiciary Committee approximately three years ago as part of a Republican-led investigation into President Joe Biden's son.

Last week, Floris and Benavides were initially charged with one count each of allegedly lying to Congress about their roles on the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force (FITF) and their involvement in the Hunter Biden investigation. Those charges were brought via a criminal complaint, as prosecutors had not yet secured a grand jury indictment at that time.

The timing of the charges, unsealed just 10 days before the midterm elections, prompted concerns about potential politicization of the justice system. Attorneys for the former agents and the magistrate judge questioned why the charges were not pursued earlier, given that the conduct in question occurred more than three years prior. The judge described the process as "strange" and denied a request from prosecutors to delay the preliminary hearing.

Hunter Biden's laptop, abandoned at a Delaware repair shop and later obtained by former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, became a significant point of contention leading up to the 2020 presidential election after its contents were reported by the New York Post. Biden was subsequently convicted of felony gun and tax offenses, though he later received a pardon from his father.