High-ranking members of Congress, including James Comer and Jim Jordan, have been pursuing allegations against Joe Biden and his son. They claim that the Ukrainian gas company, Business, bribed both Bidens with five million dollars each. The alleged bribery supposedly occurred when Biden, as Vice President under Barack Obama, was managing the Ukraine dossier. The Republicans suggest that the money was given to ensure that Burisma would not face trouble from the Ukrainian justice system, with Biden Sr. allegedly ensuring the removal of the chief prosecutor in Kiev at the time. These allegations have been widely reported on Fox News, with prominent host Sean Hannity presenting 85 reports around this supposed fact.
Claims Linked to FSB
However, the main source for these claims, Alexander Smirnow, was recently arrested by the FBI upon entering the USA. This has left Comer and Jordan in a precarious political situation. According to the special investigator appointed by former President Donald Trump, David Weiss, the alleged bribery never occurred. Smirnow, a long-time FBI informant, admitted to fabricating the lie. If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison. Weiss describes Smirnow as a man of “high criminal energy” and criticizes the Republicans for not properly verifying his claims.
Furthermore, there are suspicions that Comer, Jordan, and other prominent Republicans knowingly spread disinformation beneficial to the Kremlin. Smirnow has stated that the story of the Bidens’ bribery was concocted in collaboration with the Russian secret service, the FSB. The Democrats are now calling for the impeachment proceedings against Biden to be halted and for a public apology to be issued. They argue that the serious allegations against Hunter Biden should not be ignored. The president’s son, who has struggled with addiction, has been targeted by Republicans for years.
