Trump Is Quietly Trying to Free Man Who Lied About Hunter Biden
DOJ’s unusual intervention could reopen a disinformation case that fueled Biden impeachment politics.
Mar 17, 2026
Sources
Summary
The New Republic reports that the Trump Justice Department is supporting efforts by Alexander Smirnov—a former FBI confidential source who admitted fabricating bribery claims about Joe and Hunter Biden tied to Burisma—to undo his guilty plea and sentence. The piece frames DOJ’s move as extraordinary (signed by Deputy AG Todd Blanche) and politically consequential because Smirnov’s false claims were used to bolster Republican investigations and impeachment messaging.
Reality Check
There is documented, contemporaneous reporting that DOJ leadership (via a filing attributed to Deputy AG Todd Blanche on March 4, 2026) supported Smirnov’s legal bid to undo his conviction/plea—an atypical posture given Smirnov’s admitted fabrication of Biden–Burisma bribery allegations and his six-year sentence.
Detail
Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant/source, admitted he fabricated Biden–Burisma bribery allegations and pleaded guilty in a 2024 deal, per the article. (newrepublic.com)
Smirnov received a six-year federal prison sentence, reported elsewhere in 2025 coverage. (politico.com)
Mother Jones reports DOJ filed an unusual March 4, 2026 brief, submitted by Deputy AG Todd Blanche, supporting Smirnov’s attempt to withdraw his guilty plea/void his sentence. (motherjones.com)
Prior court reporting says prosecutors previously agreed to a release-pending-appeal request that a judge denied (Otis Wright, Los Angeles). (usnews.com)
The New Republic describes Smirnov’s claims as central to GOP efforts to pursue Biden-related investigations/impeachment narratives. (newrepublic.com)
The appeal argument described centers on plea-language about credit for time served and whether the court complied with the plea’s specifications. (newrepublic.com)