A federal judge dismissed criminal charges on Monday against two former FBI officials, Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides. The officials were accused of making false statements to Congress by suggesting they were not aware of federal investigations surrounding Hunter Biden, the son of former president Joe Biden.
Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui ruled that prosecutors failed to show probable cause that Floris and Benavides had knowingly made false statements. The judge stated he was deeply troubled by mistakes and the rushed nature of the case, suggesting the prosecution was timed to occur ahead of the midterm election.
The case was described as one of several politically charged Justice Department actions leading up to the midterms. While the judge tossed the charges, the Justice Department may still have an opportunity to pursue a grand jury indictment against the former officials.