Alexander Smirnov, the former FBI informant indicted for lying about President Joe Biden’s family and their alleged dealings in Ukraine, has been re-arrested in Nevada.
Though prosecutors fought to keep him behind bars, Smirnov was released by Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts in Nevada on Tuesday with several conditions, including GPS monitoring and the surrender of his two passports.
Prosecutors asked the Nevada judge to delay his release, but the judge declined and Smirnov was allowed to walk out.
Now, Smirnov’s defense lawyers say their client was re-arrested Thursday on a new warrant for the exact same charges – this time signed by federal district Judge Otis Wright, who will oversee the criminal case out of California.
I don’t think there was anything wrong with their decision. Pretty normal to take away passports and put 24/7 tracking on non-violent people awaiting court. Plus the last thing you want is Biden opponents to gain more empathy for the guy or have the whole, “Joe has to be hiding something he can’t let out” rhetoric.
I’m sure the Federal Judge has more sound reasoning, but the state judge didn’t rule anything unusual.
The dude who admitted to being in contact with Russian spies? This is like the first person you keep behind bars. Not because he’s violent, but because he can easily disappear (whether he wants to or not).
Yea, I was in the court room when a guys bail/release hearing was and the judge let the guy go since he forfeited his passport and submitted to an ankle bracelet.
Even though the guy tried to flee when the FBI went to arrest him and he was on his way to Mexico. The FBI arrested him while he was getting gas and when he saw them he drove his truck over a curb to get away. The guys lawyer argued that he thought he was being car jacked and didn’t know it was the FBI. Even though they were all wearing their FBI jackets.
That guy still was released pending his trial.
He probably didn’t have the FSB looking for him though, but it still sounds a bit crazy to let that guy I out on bail.