Smirnov also submitted fraudulent forms alleging that Burisma officials told him in 2015 and 2016 that Hunter Biden had been hired to protect the company through his father. In reality, Smirnov’s limited contacts with Burisma occurred in 2017, long after Joe Biden’s term as vice president had ended.
Sentencing and Appeals
While Smirnov requested a four-year sentence, citing health issues including vision loss from untreated glaucoma, the government argued for six years, emphasizing his betrayal of the United States. Prosecutors described him as a “liar and a tax cheat” whose actions undermined the integrity of the 2020 election.
“In committing his crimes, [Smirnov] betrayed the United States, a country that showed him nothing but generosity,” prosecutors said. “He repaid that trust by attempting to interfere in a presidential election.”
Judge Wright ultimately sided with the government, stating that a six-year sentence was necessary to deter informants from providing false information to law enforcement.
Legal Representation
Smirnov’s defense team included Richard Schonfeld and David Chesnoff of Chesnoff & Schonfeld, along with Mark A. Byrne of Byrne and Nixon LLP. The prosecution was handled by Derek Hines, Leo Wise, and Mark Daly from the special counsel’s office.
Broader Context
Smirnov’s case was prosecuted by special counsel David Weiss, who also brought charges against Hunter Biden in a separate case. Hunter Biden received a pardon from his father, President Biden, in December 2024 while awaiting sentencing on gun and tax charges.
