Hunter Biden Case: Judge Rebukes DOJ

What happened

Updated Oct 28, 9:21am ET

A judge rebuked Justice Department prosecutors for improperly filing an added charge against former FBI officials in the Hunter Biden laptop case. FBI agent Bryan Witt testified that Director Kash Patel unusually directed the investigation and that colleagues viewed it as political. Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides were charged with lying to Congress in 2023 about FBI work involving the laptop. Prosecutors say they made false statements; defense lawyers say the case is baseless and politically motivated. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui struck the overnight obstruction charge because it lacked required approval. He said charging papers require probable cause from a judge. The preliminary hearing resumes Wednesday.

How the left told it

Left-leaning outlets framed the case as pressure from Trump’s circle reaching into federal law enforcement. The New York Times emphasized Patel’s willingness to act on Trump’s demands against perceived enemies. Raw Story centered the FBI agent’s warning that the case was seen inside the bureau as a “witch hunt”.

How the right told it

Right-leaning outlets framed the case as accountability for officials accused of burying the laptop story. The New York Post led with the alleged lies to Congress, while noting the judge’s setback for prosecutors. Western Journal lingered on Floris’s tears as a sign of personal collapse under legal pressure.