Judge criticizes DOJ over overnight charges against two ex-FBI officials
A federal magistrate judge criticized the Justice Department at a Tuesday hearing for filing new charges overnight against two former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about Hunter Biden probes.
A federal magistrate judge criticized the Justice Department during a lengthy hearing on Tuesday over its attempt to add new charges overnight against two former FBI officials, The Hill reports. The two are accused of lying to Congress about their roles in investigations involving Hunter Biden, including the probe into his laptop.
Fox News reports the judge, Zia M. Faruqui, tossed obstruction charges against the pair after prosecutors filed unsigned complaints at midnight. The Hill and PBS NewsHour describe the judge's criticism but, in the excerpts available, do not say charges were dismissed. PBS NewsHour reports the judge scolded the department for its unorthodox handling of the case.
CBS News reported earlier that the superseding complaint was unsigned and unsworn. It was filed hours before the defendants were due at a preliminary hearing in federal court in Washington, D.C.
Attorneys for one of the former agents call the charges "a serious abuse," ABC News reports.
Reported by
- ABC NewsEx-FBI officials due back in court in Hunter Biden laptop caseTue, Oct 27, 2:52 AM EDT
- CBS NewsNew charges filed ex-FBI officials related to Hunter Biden probeTue, Oct 27, 9:25 AM EDT
- ABC NewsFBI agents charged with lying about Hunter Biden probes accuse DOJ of 'serious abuse'Tue, Oct 27, 12:50 PM EDT
- PBS NewsHourJudge scolds DOJ over case against ex-FBI officials accused of false statements about Hunter Biden's laptopTue, Oct 27, 1:34 PM EDT
- Fox NewsJudge who apologized to accused would-be Trump assassin lights up DOJ in Hunter Biden FBI caseTue, Oct 27, 4:43 PM EDT
- The HillJudge criticizes Justice Department's handling of ex-FBI officials' charges over Hunter Biden investigationTue, Oct 27, 6:24 PM EDT
- ABC NewsEx-FBI agents fighting charges accusing them of lying about Hunter Biden probeWed, Oct 28, 12:03 PM EDT
- CBS NewsLawyers question case against ex-FBI officials over Hunter Biden probeWed, Oct 28, 5:24 PM EDT
This story was written by AI using only the reports listed above, and published without a person reviewing it first. It is rewritten as new reports arrive. Read the original reporting for full detail. Spot an error? Tell us.
Earlier versions (3)
- Tue, Oct 27, 4:55 PM EDT, 4 outlets: Judge tosses charges against two ex-FBI officials, Fox News reports
- Tue, Oct 27, 1:40 PM EDT, 3 outlets: Judge criticizes DOJ's handling of case against two ex-FBI officials
- Tue, Oct 27, 11:10 AM EDT, 2 outlets: New charges filed against two ex-FBI officials before court hearing