Two Former FBI Officials Face Charges Over Hunter Laptop Testimony

WHO:

Los Angeles Times - The charged officials were identified as Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides. Floris’s attorneys described her as “a patriot” who had served as an FBI intelligence officer for nearly 20 years.

TMZ - U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the charges on X.

CBS News Politics - Two former FBI agents were charged.

Fox News - Two former FBI officials face charges related to their roles in investigating Hunter Biden’s laptop and foreign ties.

NBC News - The two former FBI officials were frequent targets of criticism from allies of President Donald Trump over their intelligence work during the 2020 presidential election.

NY Post - Two former FBI officials were charged in connection with investigations into Hunter Biden.

ABC News Politics - Two former FBI officials were charged over statements about Hunter Biden’s laptop.

WHAT:

Los Angeles Times - Floris and Benavides surrendered to authorities and appeared in federal court in Washington. Their attorneys sought a speedy hearing to contest the allegations.

Los Angeles Times - The charges were filed through a criminal complaint, not a grand-jury indictment. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui set a preliminary hearing for Tuesday, over prosecutors’ objections.

Los Angeles Times - The complaint alleges the officials led the Foreign Influence Task Force and that Hunter Biden was a recurring subject at its meetings. It alleges Benavides falsely told lawmakers he learned through Wikipedia that the FBI had the laptop.

Los Angeles Times - The task force was disbanded in February 2025 by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The Washington Post - The Justice Department alleged the statements hindered a Republican-led House committee investigating Hunter Biden.

Newsweek - FBI Director Kash Patel outlined allegations against the two former senior FBI officials.

CBS News Politics - Each former FBI agent was charged with one count of lying to Congress about the Hunter Biden laptop probe.

Fox News - The officials were charged with allegedly lying to Congress about their roles in investigating Hunter Biden’s laptop and foreign ties.

NBC News - The former officials were charged with allegedly lying to Congress.

NY Post - The officials were charged for allegedly lying to Congress that they had little involvement in investigations into Hunter Biden.

ABC News Politics - The officials were charged with making false statements about Hunter Biden’s laptop.

WHERE:

Los Angeles Times - The officials made their first court appearance in federal court in Washington.

WHEN:

NY Post - The charges were filed Friday.

TMZ - The charges came days before the 2026 midterm election.

WHY:

The Washington Post - The committee was investigating Hunter Biden in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.

NBC News - The charges concern testimony about the officials’ intelligence work during the 2020 presidential election.

Fox News - The allegations concern their roles in investigations into Hunter Biden’s laptop and foreign ties.

HOW:

Los Angeles Times - The complaint alleges the officials downplayed their firsthand knowledge of the laptop and involvement in investigations during their 2023 congressional testimony.

CBS News Politics - The charges consist of one count of lying to Congress against each former agent.

NY Post - The alleged falsehood concerned their claimed limited involvement in investigations into Hunter Biden.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 07:09 UTC)

Two former FBI officials, Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, have been charged with lying to Congress about their work on investigations involving Hunter Biden’s laptop and foreign ties. Each faces one count, according to a criminal complaint, which alleges they downplayed their firsthand knowledge of the laptop and their investigative roles during 2023 testimony. Prosecutors say their statements hindered a Republican-led House committee investigating Hunter Biden. The complaint also alleges Benavides falsely told lawmakers he learned the FBI had the laptop through Wikipedia. Floris’s attorneys called her a patriot who served as an FBI intelligence officer for nearly 20 years. The pair surrendered and made their first appearances in federal court in Washington. Their attorneys sought a speedy hearing to challenge the allegations, and a judge set a preliminary hearing for Tuesday, over prosecutors’ objections.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 01:25 UTC)

Two former FBI officials have been charged with lying to Congress about their roles in investigations involving Hunter Biden’s laptop and foreign ties. Each faces one count, based on allegations that they falsely described their involvement as limited. The Justice Department says their statements hindered a Republican-led House committee investigating Hunter Biden. That committee’s inquiry took place in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, while the testimony at issue also concerned the officials’ intelligence work during the 2020 election. FBI Director Kash Patel outlined the allegations, and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the charges on X. The two officials had been frequent targets of criticism from allies of President Trump over their intelligence work. The charges were filed Friday, days before the 2026 midterm election.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 18:16 UTC)

Two former FBI officials have been charged with allegedly lying to Congress about their roles in investigations involving Hunter Biden’s laptop and foreign ties. Each faces one count, tied to testimony about the officials’ intelligence work during the 2020 presidential election. Prosecutors allege they made false statements about how involved they were, including claiming they had little role in the investigations. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on X, and FBI Director Kash Patel outlined the allegations. The two officials were frequent targets of criticism from allies of President Trump over their intelligence work during the election. The charges were filed Friday, days before the 2026 midterm election.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 17:23 UTC)

Two former FBI officials have been charged with allegedly lying to Congress about their involvement in investigations into Hunter Biden. Each faces one count, concerning testimony about the bureau’s work on Biden’s laptop and foreign ties. Prosecutors allege the officials falsely claimed they had little involvement in those investigations. The charges focus on statements about intelligence work during the 2020 presidential election. The officials had previously drawn criticism from allies of President Trump over that work. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the charges on X. They were filed Friday, days before the 2026 midterm election. The case centers on whether the former officials gave Congress false accounts of their roles in the investigations.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 16:16 UTC)

Two former FBI officials have been charged with allegedly lying to Congress about their work related to Hunter Biden. Each faces one count, concerning statements about the bureau’s investigation of Biden’s laptop and foreign ties. Prosecutors allege the officials misrepresented how involved they were, saying they had little role in the investigations. The charges focus on their testimony about intelligence work during the 2020 presidential election. The officials had been frequent targets of criticism from allies of President Trump over that work. The case centers on whether their statements to Congress about the laptop probe and their involvement were false. Both former officials are accused of making false statements, but the allegations have not been established in court.