Alexander Smirnov FBI Wikipedia: Age, Wife, Net Worth, Family & BIO of Ex-FBI Informant
Alexander Smirnov FBI, a former FBI informant, made headlines last week when he was arrested and indicted for allegedly providing false information to the bureau about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden’s role in a Ukrainian business deal. His claims were used by some Republicans to launch an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, accusing him of abusing his power as vice president to protect his son from a corruption investigation. But who is Alexander Smirnov, and what did he really say about the Bidens and Burisma? Here is what you need to know about the man behind the scandal.
Who is Alexander Smirnov FBI?
Alexander Smirnov FBI, 43, is a Russian-born businessman who has been living in the United States since 2003. He has a wife and two children, and owns several properties and businesses in California and Nevada. According to his LinkedIn profile, he is the founder and CEO of Smirnov Group, a consulting firm that specializes in international trade, finance, and energy. He also claims to have a PhD in economics from Moscow State University.
He was a longtime FBI informant, according to court papers. He started working with the bureau in 2009, providing information on various criminal and national security matters, such as money laundering, cybercrime, and Russian interference in the 2016 US election. He was paid more than $500,000 by the FBI for his services, and was granted a special visa that allowed him to stay in the country despite having a criminal record in Russia.
Profile Overview
| Name | Alexander Smirnov |
|---|---|
| Age | 43 |
| Nationality | Russian and Israeli |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Occupation | Ex-FBI informant |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Arrested | February 15, 2024 |
| Charged | Making a false statement and creating a false and fictitious record |
| Allegations | Lying about Joe and Hunter Biden’s involvement with Burisma Holdings |
| Links | Instagram- #alexandersmirnov Homepage- Newsunzip |
What did he allege about Joe and Hunter Biden?
Alexander Smirnov FBI allegations center on the accusations that Joe Biden, during his tenure as vice president, pressured the Ukrainian government to fire a top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, in order to protect his son, who was then serving on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company. Burisma was under investigation by Shokin for alleged tax evasion and money laundering, and some Republicans claimed that Hunter Biden was involved in the scheme.
He told the FBI in 2019 that he had met with several executives of Burisma in 2015 and 2016, and that they had told him that Hunter Biden was brought on to the board “to protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems.” He also claimed that they had paid $5 million each to Joe and Hunter Biden to “take care of all those issues through his dad.” He said he had documents and recordings to prove his claims, and that he was willing to testify before Congress.
Smirnov’s claims were recorded by the FBI in a form known as an FD-1023, which investigators use to record information from confidential sources. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, obtained the document and shared it with House Republicans last year. He was repeatedly touted by lawmakers who criticized Biden as a credible source.
How did he get exposed and charged?
Alexander Smirnov FBI claims were debunked by the Justice Department’s special counsel, David Weiss, who was appointed by former Attorney General William Barr to investigate the allegations against the Bidens. Weiss found that he had lied to the FBI about several key facts, such as:
- He had never met with any Burisma executives in 2015 or 2016, but only in 2017, after Shokin had been fired and after the Obama-Biden administration had ended.
- He had no documents or recordings to back up his claims, and had fabricated some of the evidence he had shown to the FBI.
- He had a personal motive to lie about the Bidens, as he was involved in a lawsuit with a former business partner who had accused him of fraud and embezzlement. Smirnov hoped that by implicating the Bidens, he could get the FBI to drop the case against him.
Weiss indicted Smirnov on Thursday, February 15, 2024, on two counts: making a false statement and creating a false and fictitious record. He was arrested on Wednesday at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, after returning from a trip to Russia. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was released on a $250,000 bond. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Spouse
According to the web search results, Smirnov’s wife is not named, but she is described as his “wife/girlfriend” who pays his personal expenses out of her own account. She also has access to more than $3.8 million, which he allegedly failed to disclose to the authorities. He and his wife own several properties and businesses in California and Nevada, where they have been living since 2003.
Smirnov is a dual US-Israeli citizen, and he also has contacts with Russian intelligence agencies, according to the prosecutors. He was arrested last week at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, after returning from a trip to Russia. He pleaded not guilty to the charges of making false statements and creating false records, and was released on a $250,000 bond. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
What are the implications of his arrest and indictment?
Alexander Smirnov FBI arrest and indictment is a major setback for the House Republicans’ ongoing impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, as they have relied on his claims for months to justify their investigation. The inquiry, led by Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chair of the House Oversight Committee, aims to prove that Joe Biden abused his power as vice president to benefit his son and interfere in the 2020 election.
However, the inquiry has been widely criticized by Democrats and some Republicans as a partisan and baseless attempt to undermine Biden’s presidency and distract from the pressing issues facing the country, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis, and the climate change. The inquiry has also been hampered by a lack of cooperation from the Biden administration, which has refused to provide any documents or witnesses to the committee.
Comer said in a statement that the inquiry is “not reliant” on Smirnov’s FD-1023 form, and is instead “based on a large record of evidence.” He vowed to continue the investigation, saying that “the American people deserve answers.”
However, some legal experts and political analysts have said that his indictment effectively undermines the credibility and legitimacy of the inquiry, and that it may soon fizzle out due to a lack of public interest and support. They have also said that Smirnov’s case shows the dangers of relying on unverified and dubious sources, and the need for rigorous and independent oversight of the FBI’s use of informants.
Alexander Smirnov FBI is a former FBI informant who lied about Joe and Hunter Biden’s involvement with a Ukrainian energy company, and whose claims were used by some Republicans to launch an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. He was arrested and indicted last week for providing false information to the FBI, and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. His arrest and indictment is a blow to the House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry, which has been widely criticized as a partisan and baseless attempt to undermine Biden’s presidency. Smirnov’s case also raises questions about the FBI’s use of informants, and the need for more transparency and accountability in the bureau’s operations.
