We do begin tonight with several developing stories that passenger
plane flying over the US,
the emergency landing, what they saw on the wing of
the plane.
But we do start with the news just coming in
tonight.
The former FBI informant charged with lying about President Biden
and his son Hunter and Ukraine.
That former informant in court late today,
the informant who made claims about Hunter Biden and his
father Alexander Smirnoff is his name.
And tonight with authorities now say the informant has told
them about his connections to Russian intelligence officials who he
says.
Were feeding him information. Late tonight,
the special counsel saying he must be kept behind bars
arguing he is a flight risk.
Here's our Chief Justice correspondent Pierre Thomas leading us off
tonight.
Tonight, federal prosecutors say the former FBI informant accused of
spreading lies about Joe and Hunter Biden has admitted that
officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a
story about the president's son.
The informant, Alexander Smirnoff, was arrested last week and is
being charged with lying to the FBI,
claiming that the Bidens accepted a $5,000,000 bribe.
Charisma, the Ukrainian energy company where Hunter Biden once sat
on the board.
House Republicans have used that story as a justification in
their efforts to impeach President Biden,
prosecutors now calling it a fabrication.
In a new court filing,
special counsel David Weiss described Spiridov as a longtime FBI
informant of 10 years who spoke with his handler nearly
every day.
And alarmingly, they note that his efforts to spread misinformation
about a candidate of one of the two major parties
in the United States.
Continues. In fact, Special Counsel Weiss claims that Spirit Off
was actively peddling new lies that could impact US elections
after meeting with Russian intelligence officials in November.
Tonight, Smirnoff is asking the judge to release him pending
trial.
But prosecutors called him a flight risk,
saying he has access to more than $6 million and
noting that his ties to foreign intelligence agencies could resell
him outside the United States if he were released.
David, the special counsel, believes Smirnoff is a flight risk.
And wanted him in jail pending trial.
But tonight a federal judge is ordering spin off released
under strict conditions.
He must give up his passport.
He must wear an ankle monitor and he is not
allowed to travel overseas.
David Pierre Thomas leading us off here with the breaking
news.
Pierre thank you.