For more than a decade, he played a double game, giving the F.B.I.
In 2020, Mr. Smirnov told his F.B.I.
handler what prosecutors say was a brazen lie — that the oligarch owner of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma had arranged to pay $5 million bribes to both President Biden and his son Hunter.
The explosive claim was leaked to Republicans, who made Mr. Smirnov’s allegations a centerpiece of their now-stalled effort to impeach President Biden, apparently without verifying the allegation.
Last week, Mr. Smirnov, 43, was indicted on charges that he lied to investigators about the Bidens.
Persons:
Alexander Smirnov, Smirnov, Burisma, Biden, Hunter
Organizations:
Soviet
Locations:
Soviet Union, Ukrainian