Judge throws out perjury case against ex-FBI agents
Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui ruled the prosecution lacked probable cause, citing the timing of the charges before the 2024 election.
By Maya Morris ·
Two former FBI intelligence specialists will not face trial after a federal judge dismissed the perjury case against them on Monday.
Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, who served as top Washington-based intelligence officials, were charged with making false statements to Congress.
Prosecutors later added an obstruction count that had not been signed by a judge or law enforcement officer.
The case stemmed from testimony the two gave to the House Judiciary Committee in 2023 regarding the FBI's role in the Hunter Biden investigation.
The original charges were filed less than two weeks before the 2024 presidential election.
Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui found the government lacked probable cause to proceed.
"I am deeply troubled by what has happened in this case," Faruqui said during the hearing.
The judge noted the case was built on assumptions and filed at the direction of President Donald Trump.
Faruqui described the prosecution as a form of weaponization.
He added that the case served as marketing material for people not to join the FBI.
The dismissal ends the legal process initiated after Republicans questioned the FBI election interference task force's involvement in the Biden family probe.
Source: CNN
