DOJ accuses Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides of lying; their lawyers reject the charges
DOJ accuses former FBI officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides of knowingly lying to Congress about Hunter Biden investigations. Their lawyers deny the allegations and describe the prosecution as politically driven.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
An FBI agent's sworn affidavit, filed under seal with the complaint on October 20 and made public October 23, sets selected answers from the 2023 interviews beside earlier FBI messages, reports and witness accounts. It alleges that the answers were knowingly false and hindered the committee's oversight. Floris's lawyers say she was accused falsely and tie the timing of the charge to the election. Benavides's lawyers call the charges baseless and the complaint transparently political.
The question is whether the answers were knowingly and materially false in context. Some quoted answers are qualified, such as Floris's "At least not with me" and Benavides's "I do not have firsthand knowledge of that." Others are flat denials, such as Benavides's "Absolutely not." The affidavit cites the interview transcripts as its Exhibits 1 and 2. The public court filing does not include them, and we could not locate a public copy of either complete interview, so this case does not compare the quoted passages with the rest of each interview. Charges do not establish guilt.
People in this case
Chuck GrassleyCommented
Timeline
2 timeline entries on this page. Dates: October 20, 2026 to October 23, 2026
October 2026
A sealed complaint charges Floris and Benavides with false statements to Congress
Claim
Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh signs a criminal complaint charging Floris and Benavides under 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2) and grants the government's motion to seal the case. The supporting affidavit compares selected answers from the 2023 interviews with earlier records and witness accounts.
[01]United States Department of Justice
The affidavit alleges knowing and material false statements and quotes selected interview passages. It is not a finding of guilt.
FBI affidavit supporting charges against Floris and Benavides · United States Department of JusticeCase 1:26-mj-00185-MJS, document 1-1, paragraphs 26-45[02]United States Department of Justice
The complaint charges false statements. Its accusations have not been adjudicated.
Criminal complaint against Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides · United States Department of JusticeSigned complaint dated October 20, 2026, alleging a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2)[03]United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Court docket as mirrored by CourtListener (RECAP). Entry 1 is the sealed complaint, filed October 20, with one attachment, the redacted statement of facts. Entry 4 is Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh's October 20 order granting the motion to seal. Entries 7 and 8 are notices of appearance for Floris by Mary Lyle Dohrmann and Margaret Donovan. The case was unsealed October 23. No transcript or other exhibit is attached to the public complaint.
United States v. Floris, No. 1:26-mj-00185 (D.D.C.): docket · United States District Court for the District of ColumbiaDocket entries 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8 and the October 23, 2026 unsealing entryCharges become public and defense lawyers reject them
Reaction
The court unseals the case, and Floris and Benavides appear before Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui. AP reports that he set a preliminary hearing for the following Tuesday over prosecutors' objections. Lawyers for both defendants reject the accusations, and NBC names Floris's four lawyers and quotes their joint statement.
[04]Lawyers reject charges against two former FBI officials
AP reports separate defense statements rejecting the charges against Floris and Benavides.
Lawyers reject charges against two former FBI officialsDefense statements following the description of the first court appearance[05]DOJ charges former top FBI officials who were frequent targets of Trump allies
NBC quotes the four named lawyers rejecting the accusation against Floris.
DOJ charges former top FBI officials who were frequent targets of Trump alliesJoint statement attributed to Margaret Donovan, Chris Mattei, Mary Dohrmann and Kyle R. Freeny[03]United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Court docket as mirrored by CourtListener (RECAP). Entry 1 is the sealed complaint, filed October 20, with one attachment, the redacted statement of facts. Entry 4 is Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh's October 20 order granting the motion to seal. Entries 7 and 8 are notices of appearance for Floris by Mary Lyle Dohrmann and Margaret Donovan. The case was unsealed October 23. No transcript or other exhibit is attached to the public complaint.
United States v. Floris, No. 1:26-mj-00185 (D.D.C.): docket · United States District Court for the District of ColumbiaDocket entries 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8 and the October 23, 2026 unsealing entry
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
3 responses. Newest first.
Margaret DonovanLawyer for Nikki Floris, issuing a joint statement with Chris Mattei, Mary Dohrmann and Kyle R. Freeny Before this statement
NBC attributes the joint statement to four named lawyers representing Floris.
"DOJ has accused her falsely of a crime on the say-so of politicians, not on the facts."
DeniedCase context: DOJ accuses Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides of lying; their lawyers reject the charges
Full statement and sources
Donovan and three other lawyers deny that Floris committed the alleged crime and describe the charges as politically driven.
After the statement
The lawyers criticize the timing of the charges before the election.
DOJ charges former top FBI officials who were frequent targets of Trump alliesJoint statement attributed to Margaret Donovan, Chris Mattei, Mary Dohrmann and Kyle R. FreenyWhy this label?
The case concerns the alleged knowing and material false statements by Floris and Benavides. Donovan and three other lawyers deny that Floris committed the alleged crime and describe the charges as politically driven.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Chuck GrassleyChairman of the Senate Judiciary CommitteeBefore this statement
Grassley issues the statement after the charges become public.
"These two unelected bureaucrats used the power of government to smear my and Senator Johnson’s constitutional oversight"
CondemnedCase context: DOJ accuses Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides of lying; their lawyers reject the charges
Full statement and sources
Grassley accuses Floris and Benavides of smearing congressional oversight and welcomes DOJ's charges as accountability.
After the statement
He praises DOJ and the FBI and says the charges are an accountability effort.
Grassley Statement on Former FBI Officials Charged with Lying to Congress · Chuck GrassleyStatement following the announcement of charges against Floris and BenavidesWhy this label?
The case concerns the alleged knowing and material false statements by Floris and Benavides. Grassley accuses Floris and Benavides of smearing congressional oversight and welcomes DOJ's charges as accountability.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
United States Department of JusticeFederal department responsible for the prosecution or litigation positionDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The supporting affidavit compares selected testimony with earlier records.
"Action: Filed a criminal complaint charging Floris and Benavides with violations of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2)."
CondemnedCase context: DOJ accuses Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides of lying; their lawyers reject the charges
Full statement and sources
DOJ alleges that Floris and Benavides knowingly gave materially false answers.
After the statement
The allegations have not been adjudicated.
Criminal complaint against Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides · United States Department of JusticeSigned complaint dated October 20, 2026, alleging a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2)FBI affidavit supporting charges against Floris and Benavides · United States Department of JusticeCase 1:26-mj-00185-MJS, document 1-1, paragraphs 26-45Why this label?
The case concerns the alleged knowing and material false statements by Floris and Benavides. DOJ alleges that Floris and Benavides knowingly gave materially false answers.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(6)
Original text
FBI affidavit supporting charges against Floris and Benavides
Relevant passage: Case 1:26-mj-00185-MJS, document 1-1, paragraphs 26-45
About this source
The affidavit alleges knowing and material false statements and quotes selected interview passages. It is not a finding of guilt.
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
United States v. Floris, No. 1:26-mj-00185 (D.D.C.): docket
Relevant passage: Docket entries 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8 and the October 23, 2026 unsealing entry
About this source
Court docket as mirrored by CourtListener (RECAP). Entry 1 is the sealed complaint, filed October 20, with one attachment, the redacted statement of facts. Entry 4 is Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh's October 20 order granting the motion to seal. Entries 7 and 8 are notices of appearance for Floris by Mary Lyle Dohrmann and Margaret Donovan. The case was unsealed October 23. No transcript or other exhibit is attached to the public complaint.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Grassley Statement on Former FBI Officials Charged with Lying to Congress
Relevant passage: Statement following the announcement of charges against Floris and Benavides
About this source
Grassley accuses the officials of smearing congressional oversight and welcomes the prosecution. Those allegations remain disputed.
- Author
- Chuck Grassley
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
DOJ charges former top FBI officials who were frequent targets of Trump allies
Relevant passage: Joint statement attributed to Margaret Donovan, Chris Mattei, Mary Dohrmann and Kyle R. Freeny
About this source
NBC quotes the four named lawyers rejecting the accusation against Floris.
- Author
- Ryan J. Reilly, NBC News
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Criminal complaint against Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides
Relevant passage: Signed complaint dated October 20, 2026, alleging a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2)
About this source
The complaint charges false statements. Its accusations have not been adjudicated.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Lawyers reject charges against two former FBI officials
Relevant passage: Defense statements following the description of the first court appearance
About this source
AP reports separate defense statements rejecting the charges against Floris and Benavides.
- Author
- Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer
- Published
- Accessed
Share or embed this case
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the case page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- DOJ accuses Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides of lying; their lawyers reject the charges
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/nikki-floris-bradley-benavides-false-statements-hunter-biden
The Dispute Index. "DOJ accuses Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides of lying; their lawyers reject the charges". First published: 2026-10-25. Last updated: 2026-10-25. https://disputeindex.com/cases/nikki-floris-bradley-benavides-false-statements-hunter-biden