Trump’s DOJ Is Helping a Convicted FBI Informant Tied to Russian Intelligence

The Trump Justice Department has been assisting Alexander Smirnov, a convicted FBI informant with Russian intelligence ties, in his efforts to get out of prison and overturn his conviction for lying to the FBI about Biden bribery allegations. Smirnov was sentenced to six years in January 2025 for fabricating claims that Joe Biden and Hunter Biden each received $5 million bribes from Ukrainian energy company Burisma—false information that became central evidence in House Republicans' impeachment inquiry against Biden. On March 4, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed an unusual brief supporting Smirnov's attempt to withdraw his guilty plea, marking the second time Trump's DOJ has sided with the Russia-connected fabricator. Federal prosecutors had previously characterized Smirnov's contacts with Russian intelligence officials as "not benign" and said he was actively spreading misinformation to impact U.S. elections. Judge Otis Wright rejected the joint DOJ-Smirnov request to release him on bail in April 2025, but the Justice Department's cooperation with the convicted informant continues.