{ "story_id": "7c8ff33c70f94ec282ec09de71ef39f2", "desk": "bad-news-beat", "revision": 2, "published_at": "2026-11-11T17:35:27.385Z", "content_hash": "4d0dfd62dcc91f40b572f7e637510471e41f168f26f1d39a29fa02b185d4a8fc", "hash_basis": "sha256 over `headline\\ndek\\nprose`, plus `\\n` + the canonical citations JSON when any source is placed, plus `\\n#blog` for blogs", "basis": { "headline": "Judge dismisses case against two former FBI officials for lack of probable cause", "dek": "Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui called the investigation rushed and political. Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides are no longer charged, but prosecutors may still go to a grand jury.", "prose": "A federal magistrate judge in Washington dismissed the Justice Department's criminal complaint against two former FBI officials on 2 November.[^1] The two are Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides.[^2] They had been accused of misleading Congress about what they knew of a laptop belonging to Hunter Biden.[^3]\n\n## The ruling\n\nUS Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui ruled that prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence for the case.[^4] He found that the government had failed to show probable cause that the two lied to Congress about the laptop.[^5] The complaint alleged that they lied in testimony to the House Judiciary Committee in 2023.[^6]\n\nA prosecutor on the case acknowledged that the criminal complaint was flawed.[^7] The judge scolded prosecutors for unorthodox moves in the case.[^8] He said the investigation was rushed and political and contained critical mistakes.[^9]\n\n## The investigation\n\nThe investigation into the two officials began in July 2025 under FBI Director Kash Patel.[^10] Patel mandated the investigation and monitored it closely, the Associated Press reported.[^11] It opened hours after a speech by Donald Trump on election security.[^12] An FBI case agent testified that he feared the investigation would be seen as political.[^13]\n\n## Where the case stands\n\nFloris and Benavides are no longer charged under the complaint.[^14] Neither has been indicted, and neither has been convicted. The ruling does not bar a new case. The Justice Department may still seek a grand jury indictment against the two.[^15] Al Jazeera reported the same option remains open to prosecutors.[^16]\n\nAttorneys for Benavides called the accusations against him political theater.[^17] The reports in this set carry no comment from the Justice Department on the ruling.\n\nFor the prosecution, the ruling is a setback at the first stage of a criminal case. 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