Jim Jordan Clip Resurfaces After Ex-FBI Informant's Russia Link Emerges

A clip of Jim Jordan speaking about the "most corroborating evidence" in the Joe Biden impeachment inquiry has resurfaced and gone viral after the Justice Department alleged the now-former source has extensive ties with Russian intelligence agencies.

The Context

In the clip, Rep. Jordan, the Republican from Ohio, was speaking to Fox News on January 11 about the FD-1023 document that detailed Alexander Smirnov's claims. The clip has since been viewed over 105,000 times on X, formerly known as Twitter, since it was reposted by a user on February 21.

What We Know

Smirnov was charged last week by a federal grand jury with making false statements and manufacturing false records. A memo filed in court by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday alleged Smirnov has "extensive foreign ties" that include contact with "Russian intelligence agencies."

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jordan said in the clip: "The most corroborating evidence we have is that 1023 from this highly credible, confidential human source, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady."

Brady was a U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania until February 2021. On February 16, Jordan released the transcript from the House Judiciary Committee's interview with Brady in October 2023.

Brad's office vetted the 1023 document in 2020 and it was given to David Weiss' team in Delaware, which is leading the investigation into Hunter Biden. Weiss was later made a Special Counsel on the case.

Brady said: "We informed them that we felt that the 1023 had indicia of credibility sufficient to merit further investigation."

He added: "We were not making a representation that everything in this 1023 was credible."

Newsweek has approached the Justice Department and Jordan's office for comment via an email outside of working hours. Brady was approached via LinkedIn.

When asked for comment Russell Dye, spokesperson for the Committee, said: "Nothing has changed. We have plenty of evidence that shows impeachable conduct. It would be nice if Newsweek covered some of that evidence instead of running crisis communications for the Biden administration."

FBI informant Smirnov's claims were part of the document released by Republicans last year. Smirnov was charged by a federal grand jury for allegedly making false statements and manufacturing false records last week.

Views

Republicans have downplayed the importance of the 1023 since Smirnov was charged.

Rep. James Comer, the House Oversight Committee Chairman, said that "the impeachment inquiry is not reliant on the FBI's FD-1023."

Comer, who previously said the document was a "crucial" part of the investigation, added the inquiry is "based on a large record of evidence, including bank records and witness testimony, revealing that Joe Biden knew of and participated in his family's business dealings."

Smirnov's claims that Biden and his son Hunter Biden, received a $5 million bribe from Ukrainian energy company Burisma was a significant part of bringing the impeachment inquiry against Biden.

But Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the Oversight Committee said the probe was "fraudulent."

"Special Counsel Weiss's investigation is just the most recent to debunk the Ukraine-Burisma conspiracy theory at the heart of this fraudulent impeachment inquiry," Raskin said.

What's Next

Democrats have called for the inquiry to be dropped altogether, even before the Smirnov indictment was released.

But Jordan and other House conservatives have said they plan to move forward with the probe.

The White House has always denied claims President Biden ever used his elected offices to aid his son's business interests.

The judiciary committee heard testimony from James Biden, Joe Biden's brother, on February 21.

"I have had a 50-year career in a variety of business ventures. Joe Biden has never had any involvement or any direct or indirect financial interest in those activities," James Biden said in an opening statement today, according to the Associated Press.