An FBI informant, Alexander Smirnov, who has been a crucial figure in the allegations surrounding the Biden family’s connections with Ukraine, has been indicted for lying to the FBI. This indictment has had significant reverberations, not only casting doubt on the credibility of claims against Hunter Biden and his father, President Joe Biden, but also shedding light on Smirnov’s own entanglements with associates of former President Donald Trump.
Smirnov, who was paid $600,000 in 2020 by an American company called Economic Transformation Technologies (ETT), stands accused of fabricating stories about the Bidens and a bribery scheme with Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Federal prosecutors say that Smirnov began lying to the FBI about the Bidens starting in 2020, fabrications which served as a basis for a House impeachment investigation into the Bidens.
ETT’s connections to Trump associates emerged through records and filings that link the company to a UK entity owned by individuals with ties to Trump business ventures in Dubai. Notably, Shahal Khan, an investor with a history of purchasing properties like the Plaza Hotel, and Farooq Arjomand, associated with Damac Properties and a developer that has partnered with Trump for a decade, are shareholders in ETT Investment Holding Limited in London.
Trump’s relationship with Damac was lucrative, and he disclosed earning up to $5 million from a licensing deal before stating he would refrain from personal business dealings once in office. However, Trump’s continued interactions with Damac’s then-chairman, Hussain Sajwani, were reported even during his presidency.
The interweaving of Smirnov’s indictment with Trump associates adds to the complexity of the political landscape. Smirnov himself, born in Ukraine and with a record of international residence, including Israel, has been flagged by prosecutors as a flight risk due to his contacts in the Middle East and substantial financial resources.
The credibility of Smirnov’s claims against the Bidens was already suspect before his indictment. The FBI has indicated that information from confidential human sources like Smirnov is typically unverified and incomplete. Notwithstanding, Republican lawmakers, particularly the chairman of the House oversight committee, James Comer, had previously threatened to hold FBI director Christopher Wray in contempt unless documents containing Smirnov’s allegations were handed over, demonstrating a reliance on his information.
Relevant articles:
– US firm that paid indicted FBI informant tied to Trump associates, records reveal
– How clean is the dirt on Hunter Biden? A key Republican source is charged with lying to the FBI, The Associated Press, Mon, 04 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT
– Alexander Smirnov told investigators he got Hunter Biden dirt from Russian intelligence officials, CNN, Tue, 20 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT
– Man accused of lying to FBI about Hunter Biden claimed he got fake information from Russian intelligence, CBS News, Wed, 21 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT