Two former high-ranking FBI intelligence officials are facing federal charges for allegedly lying to Congress about their involvement in investigations into Hunter Biden, prompting accusations that President Donald Trump's administration is using the Justice Department to target political opponents.
Nikki Floris, 46, and Bradley Benavides, 56, were charged with making false statements during separate congressional testimonies in 2023 concerning the FBI's handling of investigations into Biden's laptop and overseas business dealings.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and FBI Director Kash Patel announced the charges Friday, Oct. 23, after court records were unsealed. Both former officials surrendered to authorities following the issuance of arrest warrants.
The charges were initially filed Tuesday.
Prosecutors Allege Officials Misled Congress
Floris previously served as deputy assistant director of the FBI's counterintelligence division, while Benavides headed the bureau's Foreign Influence Task Force (FITF).
The task force, which investigated potential foreign influence operations, was disbanded in 2025 under former Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Federal prosecutors allege both officials misrepresented their knowledge of and participation in FBI investigations involving Hunter Biden.
“Both testified that the FITF was not involved in the Hunter Biden investigations,” Patel wrote on X. “Documentary evidence, contemporaneous communications, and witness accounts contradict their testimony.”
According to court documents, investigators uncovered evidence that Floris and Benavides participated in classified briefings, received investigative updates and discussed developments involving Biden with other FBI personnel.
Prosecutors also cited statements from FBI employees who allegedly contradicted the former officials' congressional testimony.
One employee told investigators in October that he regularly discussed the Hunter Biden investigations with Floris.
“FBI Employee 1 stated that, if Floris testified that she had no discussions about an investigation into Hunter Biden while she was at FITF, that testimony would have been inaccurate,” prosecutors wrote.
The employee also reportedly disputed Benavides' testimony, saying the two had discussed reviewing information recovered from Biden's laptop.
Defense Calls Charges Politically Motivated
Floris' attorneys strongly rejected the allegations, accusing the Trump administration of pursuing a politically motivated prosecution.
Attorneys with the Washington Litigation Group said Trump and his allies had spent months attempting to portray their client as a traitor before the criminal charges were filed.
“The government’s reasons for charging Nikki are as transparent as they are unjust: to push a false narrative for a shot at political points,” the attorneys said. “It’s another sad day for the DOJ, but we look forward to Nikki’s day in court.”
Court records did not immediately identify an attorney representing Benavides.
Neither former official has been convicted of wrongdoing.
Hunter Biden Investigation Returns to Spotlight
The charges revive controversy surrounding the FBI's handling of Hunter Biden's laptop, particularly questions about whether information obtained from the device was connected to Russian disinformation efforts.
The laptop became a national political issue after the New York Post published information obtained through Rudy Giuliani concerning Biden's foreign business activities.
Hunter Biden subsequently faced separate federal gun and tax prosecutions.
A Delaware jury convicted him in June 2024 of three felony gun offenses involving his drug use and statements made when purchasing a firearm. He pleaded guilty to federal tax charges that September.
Former President Joe Biden granted his son a full and unconditional pardon in December 2024, citing concerns about political motivations behind the prosecutions.
The latest case now places two former FBI officials under scrutiny over what they knew about those investigations and whether they deliberately concealed that knowledge from Congress.
Prosecutors maintain that witness accounts and internal FBI communications support the charges. Floris' defense argues the allegations are politically driven.
