House Oversight Republicans have removed a reference to their failed attempt to use an FBI informant in the committee’s investigation into Joe Biden’s impeachment. Originally, they had proudly showcased this informant’s allegations as part of their probe into Biden.
Their investigation relied heavily on accusations from an FBI informant, Alexander Smirnov, who claimed that Biden and his son Hunter accepted bribes from a Ukrainian oligarch. However, the Justice Department later charged Smirnov with making false statements, casting doubt on the credibility of his accusations and suggesting they may have been Russian disinformation.
Lol, look what “key evidence” just magically disappeared all the sudden from House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry website! pic.twitter.com/3XVfvrBAoN
— Ian Sams (@IanSams46) February 22, 2024
Recently, the House Oversight website featured a list of key evidence in the committee’s Biden family investigation, which included a link to an FBI Form 1023 alleging Biden’s involvement in bribery and extortion. This form alleged that Biden received $5 million from a Burisma executive, but its credibility was questioned as it was based on unverified information.
Despite repeated references to this form by Republicans as evidence of Biden’s corruption, the Justice Department’s actions have undermined its validity. Smirnov, the source of the allegations, was charged with making false statements, and he confessed to receiving help from Russian intelligence officers in smearing Hunter Biden.
In light of these developments, Republican leaders have begun removing references to Smirnov from their materials. In a recent letter to former State Department official Amos Hochstein, Republicans omitted a paragraph detailing the informant’s accusations. This suggests a shift away from relying on Smirnov’s discredited claims in their investigation.
As the Biden investigation faces increasing scrutiny and credibility challenges, Republican leaders appear to be distancing themselves from the tainted allegations made by Smirnov.
