Two former FBI officials have been arrested, taken into custody, on allegations they lied to Congress about their involvement in the FBI’s investigations into Hunter Biden, according to FBI chief Kash Patel.
Jeanine Pirro, the federal prosecutor in Washington, said, ‘Lying to Congress by anyone strikes at the heart of our democratic system. But when senior FBI agents lie to Congress believing they are above the law, it’s time to bring the hammer of justice down on them.”
The officials were identified as Nikki Cole Floris and Bradley Benavides.
Patel, in an online announcement confirmed, “The charges stem from an ongoing investigation into the since-dissolved FBI Foreign Influence Task Force. Floris led the FITF as a Deputy Assistant Director from mid-2019 through mid-2022. Benavides was the FITF Section Chief from mid-2019 through the 2020 election. Both testified that the FITF was not involved in the Hunter Biden investigations. Documentary evidence, contemporaneous communications, and witness accounts contradict their testimony. Floris is also on record privately claiming to be ‘running a shadow government’ during the 2020 election in her role on the FITF. Lying to Congress by senior FBI officials strikes at the heart of our system. No one is above the law. The FBI has already dismantled the corrupt CR-15 squad that engaged in political weaponization targeting their opponents, including President Trump.”
Two former senior FBI officials, Nikki Cole Floris and Bradley Benavides, were taken into custody today on charges of allegedly lying to Congress about their involvement in the FBI’s investigations into Hunter Biden. The charges stem from an ongoing investigation into the since-dissolved FBI Foreign Influence Task Force. Floris led the FITF as a Deputy Assistant Director from mid-2019 through mid-2022. Benavides was the FITF Section Chief from mid-2019 through the 2020 election. Both testified that the FITF was not involved in the Hunter Biden investigations. Documentary evidence, contemporaneous communications, and witness accounts contradict their testimony. Floris is also on record privately claiming to be “running a shadow government” during the 2020 election in her role on the FITF. Lying to Congress by senior FBI officials strikes at the heart of our system. No one is above the law. The FBI has already dismantled the corrupt CR-15 squad that engaged in political weaponization targeting their opponents, including President Trump. Thanks to @TheJusticeDept @FBIKansasCity and @USAttyPirro. -DKP🇺🇸
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) October 23, 2026
🚨 BREAKING: The FBI has ARRESTED two former top FBI intelligence officials for LYING TO CONGRESS about their roles in the Hunter Biden investigations, @FBIDirectorKash announced The two officials helped “shape the public narrative” about Hunter Biden’s laptop ahead of the 2020 election, and one of them allegedly claimed they only learned about it from WIKIPEDIA 🤣 The two former agents, Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, surrendered to authorities this morning. And one of them privately claimed ON RECORD to be “running a shadow government” Throw the BOOK at them! 🔥
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 23, 2026
BREAKING: Two ex-FBI officials have been charged with making false statements about Hunter Biden’s laptop. https://t.co/i5NQAeqtMl
— ABC News (@ABC) October 23, 2026
Pirro, who is handling the case, confirmed one of the officials claimed to have learned about the investigation from Wikipedia, despite evidence showing the officials were involved in shaping the public narrative about Hunter Biden’s laptop before the 2020 election.
That laptop was abandoned in a repair shop and came to the attention of officials. It contained videos, images and details about Biden family scandals that dozens of leftist government officials, in a politicized scheme, claimed was Russian disinformation.
In fact, at the time that statement was made, the FBI already knew the details were accurate and damaging to the Bidens.
It was one of the factors cited in polling after the 2020 presidential election that voters said swayed their votes, and there are analyses that suggested had the truth been documented widely in the media, Joe Biden would have lost.
The Washington Examiner reported Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., previously said Floris and Benavides briefed them on Aug. 6, 2020, about their investigation into Hunter Biden’s financial connections to foreign governments and foreign nationals.
Hunter Biden was later convicted on federal gun charges and pleaded guilty to tax charges before his father pardoned him in December 2024.
