Nikki Cole Floris, 46, and Bradley Benavides, 56 — two former senior FBI officials who once ran the bureau’s Foreign Influence Task Force — surrendered to federal authorities on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, after arrest warrants were issued charging each with making false statements to Congress about their role in the FBI’s investigations into Hunter Biden.
TL;DR: Floris, former deputy assistant director who led the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force from mid-2019 to mid-2022, and Benavides, the task force’s section chief through the 2020 election, were charged in a criminal complaint with one count each of making false statements to Congress (18 U.S.C. 1001), carrying up to five years in prison. Prosecutors allege their 2023 congressional testimony about the task force’s involvement in Hunter Biden probes contradicted bureau records. Both made initial court appearances in Washington on Oct. 23; their lawyers deny wrongdoing and call the charges politically motivated.
What the charges allege
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced Friday that Floris of Alexandria, Virginia, and Benavides of Aiken, South Carolina, were charged by criminal complaint after a 27-page supporting affidavit. Each faces a single count of making false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2).
At issue: testimony the two gave to House investigators in 2023. According to prosecutors, both testified that the Foreign Influence Task Force — the unit charged with protecting the 2020 election from foreign interference — had nothing to do with the Hunter Biden investigations. The affidavit alleges that documentary evidence, contemporaneous communications and witness accounts contradict that testimony.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who said: “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. When senior officials entrusted with safeguarding our nation’s security choose deception over duty, they undermine the very institutions they swore to uphold. Today’s action makes clear that no one is above the law, and we will hold accountable all who obstruct the truth.”
Attorney General Todd Blanche added: “The weaponization of government goes against the interest of the American people, and public servants, including federal law enforcement officials, cannot lie to Congress and get away with it.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said one of the individuals was “on record privately claiming to be ‘running a shadow government’ during the 2020 election,” and declared that “weaponization will never be tolerated at this FBI.”
The defense fires back
Lawyers for both former agents rejected the charges outright. Floris’ attorneys, in a statement reported by the Associated Press via the Alexandria Brief, called the case “nonsense,” saying: “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.”
A lawyer for Benavides called the charges a “disgrace” and described Benavides as “a true patriot who devoted his career to protecting this country and its people.”
Why the task force matters
The complaint does not charge either defendant with suppressing the laptop story — only with misrepresenting their knowledge of, and involvement in, the bureau’s investigations when questioned by Congress three years later.
What happens next
Both defendants appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Washington on Oct. 23. The charges are allegations only — both are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, each faces a maximum of five years in federal prison under the false-statements statute.
Featured image: the FBI headquarters building in Washington, D.C. Credit: nreionline.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides?
Floris, 46, of Alexandria, Virginia, was an FBI deputy assistant director who led the bureau’s Foreign Influence Task Force from mid-2019 through mid-2022. Benavides, 56, of Aiken, South Carolina, was the task force’s section chief from mid-2019 through the 2020 election. Both are now former FBI officials.
What are they charged with?
Each is charged by criminal complaint with one count of making false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2) — essentially, allegedly lying to Congress.
What did prosecutors allege they lied about?
Prosecutors say that in 2023 testimony to House investigators, both testified that the Foreign Influence Task Force was not involved in the FBI’s investigations into Hunter Biden. A 27-page affidavit alleges that internal documents, contemporaneous communications and witness accounts contradict that testimony.
What did the defense say?
Floris’ lawyers called the charges “nonsense” and “politically motivated,” saying the government charged her “to push a false narrative for a shot at political points.” Benavides’ lawyer called the charges a “disgrace” and described Benavides as “a true patriot who devoted his career to protecting this country and its people.”
What did DOJ officials say about the case?
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said “no one is above the law” and promised “the hammer of justice”; Attorney General Todd Blanche said federal law enforcement officials “cannot lie to Congress and get away with it”; and FBI Director Kash Patel claimed one of the individuals had privately boasted of “running a shadow government” during the 2020 election.
Are they presumed innocent?
Yes. The charges are in a criminal complaint and are merely allegations. Both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
What is the maximum penalty?
If convicted, each faces up to five years in federal prison under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, the statute governing false statements to federal officials.
