# Judge spectacularly drops Trump-backed prosecution of two FBI agents accused of Hunter Biden laptop ‘cover-up’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/judge-spectacularly-drops-trump-backed-prosecution-of-two-fbi-agents-accused-of-hunter-biden-laptop-cover-up/
- Published: 2026-11-02T16:16:55+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T16:49:52+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/us-politics/article-16259327/Judge-spectacularly-drops-Trump-backed-prosecution-two-FBI-agents-accused-Hunter-Biden-laptop-cover-up.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Americas, Gadgets, Technology, World

## Key points

- Judge dismisses complaints against two former FBI officials.
- The officials were accused of lying to Congress.
- The judge criticised the prosecution’s timing and handling.

## Summary

A US magistrate judge dismissed the criminal complaints against two former senior FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about their work on the bureau’s Foreign Influence Task Force and Hunter Biden investigation. Judge Zia M. Faruqui sharply criticised the Justice Department, saying the case appeared to be brought without evidence or a clear motive and amounted to “weaponization”.

Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides each faced one count of making false statements; prosecutors had not obtained a grand jury indictment. The complaints were filed shortly before the 3 November midterms, prompting concerns from the defence and the judge. Faruqui also criticised prosecutors’ later attempt to add obstruction charges before he had ruled on probable cause; those charges were dismissed.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.