The impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden has just taken a major blow.
The FBI informant who alleged that Hunter and Joe Biden were both paid $5 million each for Joe Biden firing the Ukrainian prosecutor at the time has been charged by Special Counsel David Weiss.
Talking Points…
- Charges announced
- Impact on Biden's impeachment
- Analysis
Much of the impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden had allegedly hung on a statement given by Alexander Smirnov, an FBI informant that had been used in previous cases by the agency. If you recall, this was the FD-1023 form that Rep. Comer (R-KY) was demanding the FBI turn over to the House Oversight Committee as part of the impeachment inquiry.
Weiss filed charges against Smirnov, and he was later arrested in Las Vegas at Harry Reid International Airport. According to the grand jury indictment, Smirnov gave "false derogatory information" to the FBI despite "repeated admonishments that he must provide truthful information and that he must not fabricate evidence."
Comer has stated that the committee is not using the FD-1023 because it was never fully vetted, but the story behind the information in the form has been blasted all over the media. Now, Republicans have been forced to spin this indictment as a good thing, and something that only happened because Comer and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) forced the issue. To that point, Grassley's office stated:
"The informant behind the FD-1023 was, indeed, a long-serving, trusted FBI source used by the agency for criminal investigations since the Obama administration. In fact, he was so trusted that the FBI provided him authorization 'to engage in illegal activity for investigative purposes.' But, when presented with information from a source the agency so trusted, the FBI – as exposed by Senator Grassley – sat on the document for years, without performing due diligence.
"It's clear that only after Senator Grassley made the FD-1023 public did the FBI investigate the allegations in the document."
Comer also released a statement on the matter, stating that the impeachment was not based on this FD-1023 but rather on a "large record of evidence." He added:
"Just this week, we had another witness confirm Joe Biden was the brand being sold by the Bidens around the world. President Biden continues to lie to the American people about this matter and the American people demand the truth and accountability for any wrongdoing.
"We will continue to follow the facts to propose legislation to reform federal ethics laws and to determine whether articles of impeachment are warranted."
Democrats have already latched on to this, as have liberal pundits, stating that Hunter Biden should sue for defamation of character, also noting that this destroys the case against Hunter and Joe Biden, but it does not. This is just one piece of evidence that has been debunked. Having said that, optically, it is a disaster for the GOP because the media is already looking past all of the other reports and evidence, but that is just how the media works these days.
What this will do, in my opinion, is force Comer's hand to make a decision regarding the impeachment inquiry, which in and of itself is already challenging. There are two key elements to this that I think are going to create blowback for Comer. First, Comer has to show how you can impeach a sitting president for actions taken as a private citizen, Senator, and former Vice President. Second, the impeachment has to get past the Senate.
My position has always been that the GOP should be looking for criminal activity, then turn it over to a Republican Attorney General once the GOP takes back the White House. Right now, Comer has egg on his face, and he needs to figure out a way to wipe it off very quickly and flip this narrative, or it is going to drive Democrats and Independents to the voting booth in November.
