Federal Judge Dismisses Case Against Ex-FBI Officials, Citing Election Timing
U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui ruled that the investigation into Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides was rushed and politically motivated, leaving the Justice Department to seek a grand jury indictment.
By Riya Zhao ·
Two former FBI officials no longer face criminal charges for allegedly lying to Congress about Hunter Biden. On Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui dismissed the complaint against Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides. The ruling comes just one day before the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.
Faruqui called the case a clear example of "weaponization" by the Trump administration. He noted that the Justice Department filed the complaint in the immediate run-up to Tuesday's voting. The judge said the department could have sought an indictment at any time but chose a faster process for transparently political reasons.
"I will not bury my head in the sand and pretend that I cannot read a calendar," Faruqui said. He argued the timing undermined the integrity of the prosecution. The judge described the investigation as rushed and dogged by "critical mistakes" that required dismissal.
The original complaint accused Floris and Benavides of downplaying their knowledge of a laptop that Hunter Biden left at a repair shop in Delaware in 2019. The two men led the FBI Foreign Influence Task Force, which was disbanded by the Trump administration last year. Faruqui found that prosecutors failed to prove the officials intentionally lied or had a motive to deceive lawmakers.
During a three-day hearing, FBI agent Bryan Witt testified that the inquiry was viewed internally as a "witch hunt." Witt said the case was opened one day after President Trump delivered a primetime speech about his 2020 loss. He described receiving constant update demands from FBI Director Kash Patel, a close ally of the president.
Faruqui criticized the department for filing an amended complaint overnight without court approval. He also noted that the U.S. attorney's office appeared to be avoiding a grand jury vote. Last week, the department failed to secure a similar indictment for Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House staffer.
Defense attorneys for Floris and Benavides called the prosecution a "politically motivated smear campaign." Floris hugged supporters outside the courtroom after the ruling. The Justice Department retains the option to pursue a grand jury indictment, though it has struggled to win such votes in politically charged cases under the current administration.
