The Department of Justice (DOJ) has expanded its case against two former senior FBI officials, adding an obstruction charge to allegations that they misled Congress about their roles in investigations involving Hunter Biden.
In a superseding criminal complaint filed this week, prosecutors accused Nicole Floris, the former deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force (FITF), and Bradley Benavides, the task force’s former section chief, of corruptly obstructing a House Judiciary Committee investigation.
The new charge alleges that Floris and Benavides gave false testimony in 2023 to hide the FITF’s involvement in Hunter Biden-related matters and obstruct the congressional inquiry.
According to the affidavit supporting the case, Floris testified that she “did not” participate in the Hunter Biden investigation. She also said she had “no personal knowledge of Hunter Biden ever being the subject of any discussion at the FITF.”
Benavides told lawmakers that he learned the FBI had possession of Hunter Biden’s laptop only through a Wikipedia article. He insisted he had “absolutely not” known about the laptop while serving with the task force.
The affidavit presents a contrasting account. Prosecutors say Floris circulated a Senate report referencing a possible Burisma bribe, approved internal assessments and helped coordinate the FBI’s response after the New York Post reported on the laptop in October 2020. The DOJ also alleges that Benavides discussed the laptop with colleagues on the day the story was published and approved talking points suggesting the material could be Russian disinformation.
JUST IN: DOJ adds an obstruction count to its charges against former FBI officials Nicole Floris and Bradley Benavides. https://t.co/vkXsxSbvXh
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 27, 2026
A document included in a collection of declassified files released by the White House in July also shows Floris writing in a chat log: “I am basically running a shadow government inside the FBI right now.”
The obstruction allegation comes after RedState reported that Floris and Benavides had been charged with lying to Congress about their participation in investigations connected to Hunter Biden.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the initial charges and said the case demonstrated that senior FBI officials who deceive Congress cannot assume they are beyond 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.
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“When senior officials entrusted with safeguarding our nation’s security choose deception over duty, they undermine the very institutions they swore to uphold.”
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
Embedded tweet continues:
… 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🇺🇸
Floris and Benavides remain entitled to the presumption of innocence. Prosecutors, meanwhile, are investigating whether the former FBI officials misled Congress and the public about their actions surrounding the 2020 election.
Attorneys for both defendants have denied the allegations and argued that their clients are being targeted as part of a politically motivated prosecution.
“The government’s reasons for charging Nikki are as transparent as they are unjust: to push a false narrative for a shot at political points,” Floris’ lawyers said in a statement.
Benavides’ attorney maintains that the charges are a “disgrace” and said his client is a “true patriot who devoted his career to protecting this country and its people.”
Floris and Benavides made their initial court appearance this past Friday. Because they were charged via a criminal complaint, the case requires a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., to return an indictment before it can move forward.
RedState will continue to update readers on this very important case.
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