Skip to contentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.Join todayAlready a member? Log inAlex WoodwardFriday 23 October 2026 19:32 BSTThe former intelligence specialists are accused of lying to Congress about bureau’s role in laptop investigation (AFP via Getty Images)FBI Director Kash Patel announced Friday that former FBI intelligence specialists, Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, have been charged with making false statements to Congress regarding the bureau's involvement in Hunter Biden investigations.The charges stem from testimony asserting that the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force was not involved with Hunter Biden matters, which Justice Department prosecutors claim is contradicted by internal emails, messaging, and briefing documents.Defense attorneys for Floris vehemently denied the allegations, calling the late-stage criminal complaint “nonsense” designed by politicians to push a false narrative ahead of the upcoming election.The prosecution represents a rare Department of Justice case against former employees and follows years of allegations from Donald Trump and his allies regarding a supposed deep state effort to suppress information ahead of the 2020 presidential election.Floris and Benavides made their initial court appearance before Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui in Washington, D.C., where they were released without detention pending their next hearing scheduled for October 27.In fullTrump DOJ charges ex-FBI officials who briefed Congress on Hunter Biden laptop and election interferenceMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in