Judge Dismisses Case Against Two Ex-FBI Agents Days Before Midterms
Magistrate Zia Faruqui ruled prosecutors failed to prove Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides knowingly lied about Hunter Biden investigations.
By George Parker ·
The case against two former senior FBI officials ended with a dismissal that arrived with striking speed. On Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui threw out the criminal charges accusing Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides of lying about their roles in the Hunter Biden probes.
The legal dispute began with a decision by the Justice Department to charge the two agents last month. Prosecutors alleged that Floris and Benavides made false statements regarding their involvement in the investigations into the former president's son. The Department moved quickly to file the case before the midterm elections scheduled for Tuesday, which will determine control of Congress.
Faruqui rejected the government's position at a remarkably early stage of the proceedings. He found that prosecutors had not shown sufficient evidence that the officials knowingly made false statements. During a hearing in Washington federal court last week, the judge examined how President Donald Trump has exerted control over the Justice Department during his second term.
In his ruling, Faruqui criticized the Department for a rushed investigation that made critical mistakes and departed from normal procedures. He suggested that high-ranking officials sought to charge the case to influence the upcoming election. The judge described the prosecution as political, stating that what transpired cannot be described as anything other than the weaponization of federal law enforcement.
Faruqui addressed the timing directly in court. He said, I will not bury my head in the sand and pretend I cannot read a calendar. He added, I will not lobotomize myself that way. The decision stands as a blow to the Justice Department's efforts to investigate individuals President Trump views as adversaries.
The dismissal clears Floris and Benavides of the specific charges related to the Hunter Biden investigations. The case had been a focal point of debate over executive influence on federal law enforcement in the lead-up to the November elections.
Source: KOYY
