The federal appeals court rejected a request to release former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, who is charged with fabricating a bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden’s family. Smirnov’s lawyers had asked for his release while he awaits trial, but the court concluded he is a flight risk and denied his request for temporary release for eye surgery. Smirnov was arrested in February for falsely claiming that executives from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma paid the Bidens $5 million each in 2015, which became central to the Republican impeachment inquiry of President Biden. Smirnov has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
U.S. District Judge Otis Wright II in Los Angeles ordered Smirnov to remain in jail while he awaits trial, overturning a previous decision to release him on GPS monitoring. Smirnov was re-arrested at his lawyers’ office in Las Vegas shortly after being released by a magistrate judge. Despite the ruling to keep him in custody, Smirnov’s lawyers are determined to continue fighting for his release. They have the option to request a review from the full 9th Circuit or go directly to the Supreme Court. Smirnov’s legal team argues that his lack of criminal history and difficulty preparing for trial while in jail should warrant his release.
Prosecutors disclosed that Smirnov had extensive contact with officials linked to Russian intelligence and received a story about Hunter Biden from these officials. They claim that Smirnov’s allegations against the Bidens were made in 2020 after expressing bias against Joe Biden as a presidential candidate. Smirnov’s interactions with Burisma were described as routine business dealings that began in 2017. Despite these revelations, Smirnov’s lawyers maintain that he was not fleeing and was actively working on his defense at their office before being detained again. They believe he should be free to effectively prepare for trial.
The case involving Smirnov and the fabricated bribery scheme continues to draw attention as his legal team fights for his release. The decision by the federal appeals court to keep him in jail is based on concerns about him being a flight risk and the lack of conditions that would ensure his appearance in court. Smirnov’s lawyers are exploring all legal avenues to challenge this ruling, including seeking a review from the full 9th Circuit or appealing directly to the Supreme Court. The situation remains complex, with conflicting arguments from both sides regarding the circumstances of Smirnov’s arrest and the credibility of the allegations against him.
