Two Former FBI Officials Charged With Lying to Congress Over Hunter Biden Laptop

Two former senior officials of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have been charged with allegedly lying to Congress about their roles in matters concerning Hunter Biden’s laptop during the 2020 presidential election.

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the charges, identifying the defendants as Nikki Floris, 46, and Bradley Benavides, 56. According to Pirro, both surrendered to authorities on arrest warrants on Friday, October 23, 2026.

She said the charges relate to their accounts of their work with the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force, which handled matters involving foreign interference and influence operations.

According to Pirro, one of the former officials told Congress that they learned about the laptop investigation through Wikipedia. However, prosecutors allege that evidence points to their involvement in shaping the public narrative surrounding the laptop ahead of the 2020 election.

Floris and Benavides each face one count of making false statements to Congress. Both appeared in court for their initial hearings on Friday and are expected to return for another hearing on Tuesday, October 27.

Lawyers representing Floris have denied the allegations, describing their client as a “patriot” who was being falsely accused “on the say-so of politicians.”

The charges were announced weeks before the 2026 US midterm elections, adding a political dimension to a case linked to the controversy surrounding Hunter Biden’s laptop and its role in the 2020 election campaign.

The allegations against both former FBI officials have yet to be proven in court, and they remain entitled to the presumption of innocence as the legal proceedings continue.