WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A former FBI informant accused of lying about U.S. President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden’s interactions with a Ukrainian energy company pleaded guilty on Monday to causing the creation of a false record.
Alexander Smirnov entered the plea in federal court in Los Angeles, according to a spokesperson for Special Counsel David Weiss, the prosecutor who brought the case.
He also admitted to tax evasion, court documents showed.
Smirnov, who was due to face trial next month, reached an agreement with prosecutors last week that calls for a sentence of between four and six years in prison.
Smirnov admitted in court documents to fabricating a claim that Biden and his son were each paid $5 million in bribes from executives at Burisma Holdings, the Ukrainian energy company that hired Hunter to serve on its board.
Weiss also investigated Hunter Biden’s business dealings and convicted the president’s son on gun and tax charges. Joe Biden pardoned his son last month.
Smirnov’s claim was documented by the FBI in its investigation into Hunter Biden, leading to the false record charge against Smirnov. It also became a focus of the since-abandoned effort by Republicans in the House of Representatives to impeach Joe Biden over his son’s business activities.
A lawyer for Smirnov did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Smirnov is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 8.
(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Mark Porter)
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