Is the House GOP's Biden impeachment drive dead?
FBI informant Alexander Smirnov has been indicted after admitting Russian intelligence fed him a false story about President Joe Biden
What happened?
Longtime FBI informant Alexander Smirnov "admitted that officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved" in passing a false story about Hunter Biden to the FBI, prosecutors said Tuesday night. Smirnov was indicted last week for fabricating a story at the heart of the House impeachment effort, that President Joe Biden and Hunter Biden demanded $5 million bribes from Ukrainian energy company Burisma. James Biden told House investigators Wednesday that his brother "Joe Biden has never had any involvement or any direct or indirect financial interest" in family members' business dealings.
Who said what?
"The impeachment investigation essentially ended yesterday" with the "explosive revelation" that Smirnov's tales of bribes "were concocted along with Russian intelligence agents," said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. Smirnov "wasn't an important part of this investigation," Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) said on Newsmax. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), reminded he called Smirnov's allegation the "most corroborating evidence we have," said its debunking doesn't "change the underlying facts" of the Biden inquiry.
The commentary
Smirnov's story being revealed as the tip of a successful high-level "Russian disinformation campaign" really undermines "a fundamental building block of the impeachment," Ryan Goodman said on PBS. Surely Republicans know they "have to go back to the drawing board." One "lying witness does not exonerate the Bidens" in the "influence-peddling" investigation, Jonathan Turley said at the New York Post.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Hunter Biden is scheduled for a closed-door House deposition next week.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
'If the election is thrown to the House, 2024 could be a watershed year for American democracy'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Biden's hit a pothole'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Georgia erupts in fury as 'Russian law' passes
Speed Read The "foreign influence" bill is reminiscent of legislation Putin previously passed, with the intent to silence critics
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'The hard reality of an aging society'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Crink: the new autocractic 'axis of evil'
The Explainer China, Russia, Iran and North Korea make up the 'axis of totalitarian states' colluding to undermine the West
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is it 1968 all over again?
Talking Points Why campus protests could spoil Democrats' hopes for November
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Will young people refuse to vote in the 2024 presidential election?
Today's Big Question The kids are not alright
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
'Is the death penalty racist? Of course it is.'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published