U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui has rejected a new criminal complaint against former FBI officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, who are accused of lying to Congress about the Hunter Biden investigations. The judge criticized prosecutors for not securing prior judicial approval for the complaint, which sought to add charges of obstruction. Both defendants were arrested but deny any wrongdoing and have been released.
Key facts
- Judge Zia Faruqui refused to approve a new complaint against Floris and Benavides.
- The former FBI officials are accused of making false statements to Congress.
- Prosecutors sought to add obstruction charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1505.
- Both officials deny wrongdoing and were released after their arrests.
- The judge highlighted the need for judicial approval before proceeding.
A short AI summary in our own words. The reporting belongs to Washington Examiner; we don't reproduce it. You can compare how outlets framed this story below.