President Biden on Friday called on House Republicans to halt the impeachment inquiry against him, calling it “an outrageous effort from the beginning.”
The president’s comments come after Joe Biden and Hunter Biden indicted an FBI informant who claims he was paid millions of dollars in exchange for helping fire a Ukrainian prosecutor investigating Burisma Holdings. Ta.
“He’s lying and it should be dropped,” Biden said after a reporter asked him a question about the indicted FBI informant.
House Republicans told Fox News Digital that the impeachment inquiry has more evidence that does not rely on the indicted FBI sources.
FBI informant indicted for giving false information about Hunter Biden in 2020
Special Prosecutor David Weiss charged Alexander Smirnov, 43, with making false statements and creating false and fictitious records during an FBI interrogation.
The indictment says Smirnov provided “false and derogatory information” to the FBI despite “repeated warnings that he must provide truthful information and not fabricate evidence.” .
According to the indictment, Smirnov told FBI agents in March 2017 about Burisma’s potential acquisition of a U.S. company and an initial public offering (IPO) on a U.S.-based stock exchange. He said he had spoken to the owner of the store on the phone.
Smirnov, who reported the conversation to FBI agents, said it was publicly known that Hunter Biden was on Burisma’s board.
In June 2020, Smirnov is suspected of telling the FBI for the first time about two meetings he had four to five years ago, in which Burisma executives said, “To protect us, Hunter… “I hired Biden,” he reportedly admitted. Through his father, he was freed from all kinds of problems. ”
President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, December 13, 2023 (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
During the meeting, Smirnov allegedly said that the executives had paid the Bidens $5 million each while Joe Biden was still in the administration, according to the indictment. According to the indictment, Smirnov was paid to the Bidens by Hunter Biden, with the help of his father, and then-Ukraine Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin to Burisma. He is said to have falsely claimed that he did so in order to be able to take charge of a criminal investigation.
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This allegation was recorded on the FBI FD-1023 form, which is used by FBI agents to record unconfirmed reports from confidential human sources. This form is used to document information conveyed to FBI agents, but recording that information does not allow the FBI to verify or compare the information with other information known to the FBI. There is nothing to do.
The FD-1023 form documenting last year’s allegations has become a key document in the House investigation into the Biden family’s business dealings.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley were contacted last summer by a whistleblower who claimed the FBI was in possession of the document, an FD-1023 form dated June 30, 2020. received. Confidential sources allege that Biden was involved in a multimillion-dollar conspiracy with foreigners during his time as vice president in exchange for influence over his policy decisions.
Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) presents the House Oversight and Accountability Committee entitled “Inappropriate Litigation: Oversight of Third-Party Litigation Funding” on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, in the Rayburn Building. arrive at the public hearing. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
On Friday, Biden was asked about Smirnov’s indictment and whether the impeachment inquiry should end.
“He’s lying and it should be retracted,” Biden said, referring to Smirnov’s claims and the impeachment inquiry. “It was just a hell of an effort from the beginning.”
Abby Lowell, Hunter Biden’s lawyer, made similar remarks earlier Friday, saying, “For months, we’ve seen the Republican Party move against Hunter based on lies told by politically motivated people, not facts.” They warned us that we were building a conspiracy regarding that family. We were right and the atmosphere is ominous.” Lowell said in a statement. “This is just another example of Chairman Comer and Chairman Jordan spreading falsehoods based on dishonest and unreliable allegations and testimony.”
But Comer, who is leading the impeachment inquiry, said the FBI’s FD-1023 form containing Smirnov’s documents was not used in the impeachment inquiry against the president.
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He said the impeachment inquiry is “based on a large body of evidence, including bank records and witness testimony, that shows Joe Biden knew about and participated in his family’s business dealings.” Ta.
Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, speaks to members of the media outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“We have more than $30 million in reasons to continue this investigation, and none of those reasons depend on corrupt FBI or informants. Bank records don’t lie,” Comer said Friday on FOX. He told News Digital. “Bank records and witness testimony reveal that Joe Biden knew about and participated in his family’s business plans, and repeatedly lied to the American public about these facts.”
Comer continued: “The American people demand truth and accountability for all wrongdoing. We will continue to pursue the facts, propose legislation to reform federal ethics laws, and determine whether articles of impeachment are warranted.” ” he added.
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In the impeachment inquiry, the president’s brother Jim Biden is scheduled to testify on February 21st, and Hunter Biden is scheduled to take a deposition on February 28th. All testimony will be held in private.
Smirnov repeated some of the false claims in a September 2023 interview with FBI agents, claiming he had met with Russian officials, before changing other information and telling new false stories. He has been accused of promoting it.
If convicted, Smirnov could face up to 25 years in prison.
Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
