Trump admin 'bending over backward' to free Russian spy: insider

President Donald Trump's administration is reportedly seeking to free a former FBI informant who admitted he lied to federal agents during the 2020 presidential election, an insider has claimed.

Alexander Smirnov was arrested by the FBI in February 2024 and charged with lying to the agency. He faces a up to 25 years in prison, but the president and his team could be working on releasing Smirnov. An unnamed source speaking to Mother Jones claimed the administration is in the process of aiding the ex-FBI informant with avoiding his sentence and even trial.

Smirnov is believed to have lied to the FBI about both Hunter and Joe Biden in 2020. Around the same time, prosecutors claim the ex-FBI informant was paid $600,000 by Economic Transformation Technologies. Two of ETT's owners, Shahal M. Khan and Farooq Arjomand, are associates of Donald Trump.

DC Bureau Chief reporter David Corn wrote, "The Trump administration appears to be bending over backward to help him escape his sentence and win another trial—or perhaps avoid one.

"There’s no guarantee the Justice Department would continue the prosecution if Smirnov succeeds with his appeal. One government official who has followed this case tells me he wonders if the ultimate plan of the Trump administration is to let Smirnov go free.

"Trump’s Justice Department has shown an unusual amount of consideration for Smirnov, a confessed criminal tied to Russian intelligence who betrayed the FBI and who perpetuated a fraud that roiled American politics. But he did make trouble for Biden and the Democrats. This case warrants scrutiny as Smirnov’s appeal proceeds."

Corn asked the Department of Justice whether it would back Smirnov's appeal in court and whether the government would renew the prosecution of Smirnov. Both questions were met with the answer, "We have no comment."

Smirnov is seeking a plea deal with the DOJ, which would ensure he is given credit for time served. Judge Otis Wright, who presided over the Jan. 8, 2025, case where Smirnov was sentenced to six years, says he will not involve himself in the credit plea.

Corn explained, "The plea agreement between the Justice Department and Smirnov stated that Smirnov was 'entitled' to a credit for time served. But at sentencing, Judge Wright said he would not 'get involved' in the calculation of the credit and would leave that to the Bureau of Prisons.

"In the appeal, Smirnov’s lawyers argued that even though Smirnov ended up being credited by BOP with time served, Wright, by not directly recommending the time off to BOP, had not adhered to the plea agreement.

"Consequently, they contended, the sentence should be revoked and Smirnov permitted to withdraw his guilty pleas and return the case to the pre-agreement stage. The Justice Department filing supports Smirnov’s argument and his requests."