The former FBI informant charged with fabricating claims about a bribery scheme involving Joe Biden, his son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company has "extensive" contacts with Russian intelligence agencies, according to the Justice Department.
Federal prosecutors also say in a new court filing that Alexander Smirnov admitted to authorities after he was arrested that "officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story" about President Biden's son, Hunter.
In the filing in federal court in Nevada, prosecutors argue that Smirnov be held in custody, pending trial. Smirnov, a longtime FBI informant, was arrested last week and charged with making false statements and creating a false and fictitious record.