The Department of Justice charged two former FBI officials with lying to Congress about their involvement in investigations into Hunter Biden, including matters involving his laptop. Nikki Cole Floris and Bradley Benavides surrendered Friday on arrest warrants, according to the department.

Floris served as the deputy assistant director and functional head of the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force, known as FITF. Benavides was the task force’s section chief, and both are accused of falsely denying involvement while speaking to Congress.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro cast the charges as a direct challenge to officials who allegedly believed their positions protected them from accountability. "Lying to Congress by anyone strikes at the heart of our democratic system, but when senior FBI agents lie to Congress believing they are above the law, it’s time to bring the hammer of justice down on them," Pirro said.

Pirro also warned that deception by officials entrusted with national security damages the institutions they promised to serve. "When senior officials entrusted with safeguarding our nation’s security choose deception over duty, they undermine the very institutions they swore to uphold. Today’s action makes clear that no one is above the law, and we will hold accountable all who obstruct the truth."

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The Justice Department claims it has evidence showing that Benavides discussed the laptop story with other people inside the FBI. That evidence, according to the department, contradicts his testimony that he learned about the story from Wikipedia.

Benavides told lawmakers he had read the Wikipedia page when asked where he learned "that there was an ongoing criminal investigation related to the laptop." The department says emails show he communicated with the team investigating Hunter Biden and met with that team before meeting with lawmakers.

The case against Floris also centers on what she told Congress compared with what the Justice Department says its records show. A statement of facts filed by the department cites testimony Floris gave to the House Judiciary Committee in 2023.

During that testimony, Floris denied involvement in the investigation into the former president’s son. She answered negatively when asked whether there was "ever a discussion at the FITF about Hunter Biden" and whether she had "any involvement in the Hunter Biden investigation."

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The Justice Department contrasted those answers with email logs that it says show Floris discussing Hunter Biden with colleagues at the FBI. The alleged discrepancy now forms a central piece of the government’s case against her.

Floris’ attorneys strongly rejected the allegations and defended her record at the bureau. "Nikki Floris is a patriot. She served our nation as a dedicated FBI intelligence officer for nearly 20 years."

Her attorneys accused the Justice Department of pursuing a politically driven case rather than following the facts. "Yet today, the DOJ has accused her falsely of a crime on the say-so of politicians, not on the facts. It’s no coincidence the government is filing these nonsense charges now, years later, on the eve of an election," they said.

MASSIVE: Two former senior FBI officials have been arrested after being charged with lying to Congress about their involvement in the Hunter Biden investigation — specifically the laptop and the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force during the 2020 election.

Fox News’ David Spunt: “The two former FBI officials charged with lying to Congress, 46-year-old Nikki Flores and 56-year-old Bradley Benavides. They both surrendered today on arrest warrants.” “Authorities say in 2023 they lied to Congress relating to the 2020 election when the laptop was made public… Authorities say they both had a hand in the Bureau's Foreign Influence Task Force and that task force connection to the Hunter Biden tax probe. Authorities say that Brad Benavides claimed to have learned about the Hunter Biden probe from Wikipedia, but prosecutors say that they have receipts to show the opposite.” “They say that he regularly discussed the laptop with FBI officials in the lead-up to the 2020 election, including in a message forum regarding Flores. Authorities allege that she told the Judiciary Committee that she was involved in, ‘No discussions about Hunter Biden while she was with the task force.’ Federal prosecutors say they have evidence that contradicts her as well.” D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro: “Lying to Congress by anyone strikes at the heart of our democratic system, but when senior FBI agents lie to Congress believing they are above the law, it’s time to bring the hammer of justice down on them. When senior officials entrusted with safeguarding our nation’s security choose deception over duty, they undermine the very institutions they swore to uphold. Today’s action makes clear that no one is above the law, and we will hold accountable all who obstruct the truth.” — RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) October 23, 2026

Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson previously accused Floris and Benavides of participating in a 2020 FBI briefing about Russian disinformation. The senators alleged that the briefing was intended to undermine their investigation into Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings.

Claims that Hunter Biden’s laptop was part of a Russian disinformation operation stirred controversy before the 2020 election. The FBI later authenticated the laptop during Biden’s 2024 federal gun trial, when prosecutors introduced it as evidence.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the two former FITF members allegedly lied to Congress in 2023 regarding investigations connected to the 2020 election. He also said one of them had privately claimed to be "running a shadow government" during that election.

"One of these individuals is on record privately claiming to be ‘running a shadow government’ during the 2020 election. As we’ve said repeatedly: weaponization will never be tolerated at this FBI," Patel said.

Two former senior FBI officials, Nikki Cole Floris and Bradley Benavides, were taken into custody today on charges of allegedly lying to Congress about their involvement in the FBI’s investigations into Hunter Biden.

The charges stem from an ongoing investigation into the since-dissolved FBI Foreign Influence Task Force. Floris led the FITF as a Deputy Assistant Director from mid-2019 through mid-2022. Benavides was the FITF Section Chief from mid-2019 through the 2020 election. Both testified that the FITF was not involved in the Hunter Biden investigations. Documentary evidence, contemporaneous communications, and witness accounts contradict their testimony. Floris is also on record privately claiming to be “running a shadow government” during the 2020 election in her role on the FITF. Lying to Congress by senior FBI officials strikes at the heart of our system. No one is above the law. The FBI has already dismantled the corrupt CR-15 squad that engaged in political weaponization targeting their opponents, including President Trump. Thanks to @TheJusticeDept @FBIKansasCity and @USAttyPirro. -DKP — FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) October 23, 2026

Lawyers for Floris and Benavides did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment on Friday. A representative for Hunter Biden also did not respond to an inquiry.

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