Judge Dismisses Charges Against Former FBI Officials in Laptop Probe

A federal court in Washington dismissed criminal charges against two former FBI officials on Monday, November 2, 2026, after finding insufficient evidence to establish probable cause that they had lied to Congress about the investigation into Hunter Biden's laptop. U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui ruled that the Justice Department had failed to establish a sufficient legal basis for prosecuting Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides.

Floris and Benavides, both former senior intelligence specialists based in Washington, faced charges stemming from testimony they provided to the House Judiciary Committee in 2023. The congressional inquiry examined the FBI's handling of allegations involving the Biden family and evidence connected to Hunter Biden's laptop.

Republican lawmakers had questioned whether an FBI election interference task force attempted to minimize allegations of corruption involving the Biden family. The criminal charges were filed less than two weeks before Election Day and initially included one count of making a false statement against each former official.

Prosecutors subsequently added an obstruction charge. However, the additional charge had not been signed by a judge or a law enforcement officer, according to CNN's account of the proceedings.

During Monday's hearing, Faruqui expressed serious concerns about the prosecution and questioned the basis on which the case had been brought.

"I am deeply troubled by what has happened in this case," said Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui.

The judge also criticized the circumstances surrounding the prosecution, arguing that the allegations lacked an adequate evidentiary foundation and were driven by political considerations.

Faruqui said the case could not be viewed "as anything other than weaponization," according to CNN's report of the hearing.

He further criticized the potential consequences for the FBI's institutional reputation and its ability to attract new personnel.

The judge described the prosecution as "marketing material for people not to join the FBI."

According to The Washington Post, Faruqui concluded that the Justice Department had not demonstrated probable cause that Floris and Benavides made false statements to the House Judiciary Committee. The dismissal followed several days of legal arguments examining the allegations and the evidence supporting the charges.

The case centered on the FBI's conduct during politically sensitive investigations involving Hunter Biden ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Monday's ruling dismissed the criminal proceedings against both former officials.