DOJ files new charges accusing ex-FBI officials of obstructing, lying to Congress over roles in Hunter Biden probe

October 27, 2026 / 9:25 AM EDT / CBS News

Federal prosecutors filed new criminal charges on Tuesday against two ex-FBI counterintelligence officials, accusing them of obstructing a congressional proceeding and lying to lawmakers about their roles in the bureau's investigations of Hunter Biden.

The unsigned and unsworn superseding complaint, filed early Tuesday morning, comes just hours before the defendants Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides are due to appear in federal court in Washington, D.C. for a preliminary hearing.

At that hearing, attorneys for Floris and Benavides are expected to grill one of the government's witnesses to test the strength of the complaint and whether the Justice Department can demonstrate that there is probable cause to believe a crime was committed.

The decision by the Justice Department to file a criminal complaint against two former senior FBI officials over testimony they gave three years ago so close to the midterm elections has raised eyebrows among former prosecutors and other federal officials.

Criminal complaints in felony cases are typically reserved for more exigent circumstances, such as ongoing threats to public safety or national security. And Justice Department guidelines and norms have typically urged prosecutors to avoid taking overt investigative steps on…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/