Two former FBI officials charged with lying to Congress about Hunter Biden

Two former FBI intelligence officials were charged on Friday, October 23, 2026, with making false statements to Congress. ABC News, Roll Call, and Courthouse News Service report that Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides were charged in federal court in Washington after surrendering to authorities. Roll Call identifies Floris as Nicole Floris, while ABC News and Courthouse News Service refer to her as Nikki Floris. [1][3][4][5]

The charges relate to testimony given to the House Judiciary Committee in 2023. ABC News, Roll Call, and Courthouse News Service all report that the former officials allegedly made false statements regarding their roles in investigating the origins of Hunter Biden's laptop. Courthouse News Service reports that prosecutors stated the testimony prevented lawmakers from conducting further investigations. The outlet also notes that the defendants face up to eight years in prison if convicted. [1][3][4][7]

Both defendants previously worked in the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force, according to Roll Call, Courthouse News Service, and The Hill. Roll Call and Courthouse News Service report that the task force has since been disbanded. The Hill notes that FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the former officials were taken into custody. [1][3][4][5]

Hunter Biden is the second son of former United States President Joe Biden. He previously served on the board of Burisma Holdings, a private natural gas producer in Ukraine, from 2014 until April 2019, and was a founding board member of the investment firm BHR Partners. [12]

Roll Call reports that the Trump administration announced the charges as part of its latest high-profile prosecution ahead of the midterm elections. NPR Politics reports that Republicans have long accused the FBI of mishandling investigations involving Hunter Biden and his laptop. [3][6]