US judge tosses case against ex-FBI officials accused of lying about Hunter Biden probes
A Washington magistrate on Monday dismissed false-statement charges against two former FBI officials tied to Hunter Biden matters. Judge Zia Faruqui found no probable cause that Nikki Cole Floris and Bradley Benavides lied in 2023 House Judiciary testimony about the laptop probe and Foreign Influence Task Force. Faruqui said the case cannot be described as anything other than weaponization and was directed by President Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel. Filed by complaint rather than indictment, it drew FBI agent testimony that the probe might look political. Prosecutor Carlton Davis, a Jeanine Pirro aide who earlier joined a failed effort to indict six members of Congress, acknowledged the complaint was flawed. Faruqui struck an unsigned add-on obstruction complaint Floris lawyers said Nikki should never have had to endure this disgraceful public attack and hoped courts remain a refuge from Trump administration targeting; they and Benavides counsel called the case a midterm smear and political theater. DOJ rejected the ruling as suggesting immunity for false statements to Congress and said it is evaluating all options by facts and law, not politics. A grand jury path is open but unlikely. Sourced accounts show no dispute on the core facts.