Alexander Smirnov, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) informant, was sentenced to six years in prison on Wednesday for fabricating a bribery story involving President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
The claim, which became central to the Republican impeachment efforts, was later proven false, Associated Press reports.
Smirnov pleaded guilty last month to tax evasion and lying to the FBI about a phoney bribery scheme, which prosecutors say was part of an attempt to influence the 2020 presidential election outcome.
He falsely told his FBI handler that executives from Ukrainian energy company Burisma had paid the Bidens $5 million each in 2015.
Prosecutors revealed that Smirnov had routine business dealings with Burisma starting in 2017, after Biden’s vice-presidency, and his false claims set off a “firestorm in Congress.”
The allegations resurfaced as part of the House impeachment inquiry, which the Biden administration dismissed as a “stunt.”
Special counsel David Weiss wrote in court papers, “In committing his crimes he betrayed the United States, a country that showed him nothing but generosity, including conferring on him the greatest honour it can bestow, citizenship.”
Weiss added that Smirnov’s actions sought to “interfere in a Presidential election.”
Smirnov’s defence team sought a lighter sentence of four years, highlighting his “substantial assistance” as an FBI informant and his severe health issues.
They argued that a longer sentence would “unnecessarily prolong his suffering.”
His lawyers also pointed out that both Hunter Biden and President-elect Trump had faced legal issues yet avoided meaningful punishment.
Despite these arguments, Smirnov received the six-year sentence.