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Judge dismisses complaint against two former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress

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Covered by 23 outlets across the spectrum.

25 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Entrance of the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building with concrete planters in front
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A federal magistrate judge, Zia Faruqui, dismissed a criminal complaint against Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress in 2023 about the Hunter Biden laptop investigation. At a hearing on Monday, he found the government had not shown probable cause for the charges. Coverage from the left, center and right reports that he described the prosecution as “weaponization” of federal law enforcement. Left and center outlets also report that he said the case was rushed ahead of the midterm elections. The case had been brought by complaint rather than by a grand jury, so prosecutors could still seek an indictment or appeal the ruling, according to the reports.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. Editors read every story. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. A federal magistrate judge dismissed the criminal complaint against Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress in 2023 about the Hunter Biden laptop investigation.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left3Left1Center5Right2Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Boston Globe, The New Republic, Raw Story
    Left
    NBC News
    Center
    The Hill, PBS NewsHour, NewsNation, CNBC, Straight Arrow News
    Right
    Washington Examiner, Daily Mail
    Far Right
    Just the News, Fox News

  2. The judge found the government had not shown probable cause for the charges.

    Reported byFar Left1Left1Center3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    Raw Story
    Left
    NBC News
    Center
    The Hill, CNBC, Straight Arrow News

  3. The judge said the prosecution amounted to weaponization of federal law enforcement.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left2Center2Right1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The New Republic, Raw Story
    Center
    CNBC, Straight Arrow News
    Right
    Daily Mail
    Far Right
    Fox News

  4. The judge said the case was rushed ahead of the midterm elections.

    Reported byFar Left2Center1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The New Republic, Raw Story
    Center
    CNBC

  5. The two former officials had been charged by criminal complaint, not by a grand jury, weeks before the ruling.

    Reported byLeft1Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    NBC News
    Right
    Washington Examiner, Daily Mail

  6. Prosecutors could still seek a grand jury indictment or appeal the ruling.

    Reported byCenter1Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Center
    Straight Arrow News
    Right
    Washington Examiner

How each side tells it

Compare views

All sides report a judge dismissed the complaint against two former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about the Hunter Biden laptop probe. Left outlets stress the judge’s weaponization finding; center outlets report the ruling plainly; right outlets stress the collapse of the case.

  • the left

    10 outlets

    Left headlines lead with the judge’s rebuke and its link to Trump; Far Left outlets use stronger wording such as slams, kills and Massive Loss, while NBC keeps a plain dismissal headline.

    Judge Loaded verb“slams”Makes the judge’s criticism sound like an attack, where criticizes states it without added force.More neutral: criticizesDisagree with this highlight? Trump's 'weaponization' as he kills DOJ's Hunter Biden case
    Raw StoryFar LeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    6 outlets

    Center headlines report the dismissal in procedural terms, naming the charge and the officials, and attribute the judge’s weaponization criticism to the judge rather than to the outlet.

    Federal judge dismisses case against ex-FBI officials accused of lying about Biden laptop probe
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    7 outlets

    Right headlines name the two officials and the laptop case and report the dismissal plainly; the Daily Mail goes further, using the words spectacularly and Trump-backed.

    Judge dismisses criminal complaint against two ex-FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about Hunter Biden
    Washington ExaminerRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left4

    slammederror-riddledDeals Trump Massive Lossslams

  • Center1

    blasted

  • Right5

    bombshell reportingblistering rebukescoldedspectacularly

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    bombshell reportingMore neutral: reporting

    The word adds drama to the background reporting without adding a fact about this case.

    Hunter Biden's laptop was the subject of bombshell reporting from the New York Post prior to the 2020 presidential election.

    Used byJust the News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    blistering rebukeMore neutral: sharp criticism

    The phrase adds dramatic force beyond the reported fact that the judge criticized the prosecution.

    …accused of lying to Congress about the Hunter Biden investigation, delivering a blistering rebuke of the prosecution Monday and accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing…

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    slammedMore neutral: criticized

    Presents the judge’s criticism as an attack, where criticized describes it without added force.

    Faruqui said that the government’s case was tantamount to “weaponization,” and slammed its error-riddled arguments as “slapdash,” according to MS NOW’s Ken Dilanian .

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    error-riddledMore neutral: arguments the judge found insufficient

    States as fact, in the outlet’s own voice, that the government’s arguments were full of errors.

    …that the government’s case was tantamount to “weaponization,” and slammed its error-riddled arguments as “slapdash,” according to MS NOW’s Ken Dilanian .

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

Show 6 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Sensational language

    Deals Trump Massive LossMore neutral: Judge dismisses case against two ex-FBI officials

    Frames the dismissal as a defeat for Trump, which the ruling itself does not state.

    Judge Deals Trump Massive Loss Over Hunter Biden Laptop “Obsession”

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    slamsMore neutral: criticizes

    Makes the judge’s criticism sound like an attack, where criticizes states it without added force.

    Judge slams Trump's 'weaponization' as he kills DOJ's Hunter Biden case

    Used byRaw Story (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    scoldedMore neutral: criticized

    Presents the judge’s criticism as a reprimand, more than the verb criticized conveys.

    Faruqui scolded federal prosecutors for bringing the false statements charges against the former FBI…

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    spectacularlyMore neutral: Judge dismisses case against two former FBI officials

    An adverb of drama that adds no fact; the ruling can be stated without it.

    Judge spectacularly drops Trump-backed prosecution of two FBI agents accused of Hunter Biden laptop…

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Trump-backedMore neutral: Justice Department

    Ties the prosecution to Trump through a link the headline does not spell out.

    Judge spectacularly drops Trump-backed prosecution of two FBI agents accused of Hunter Biden laptop 'cover-up'

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    blastedMore neutral: criticized

    Presents the judge’s criticism as an outburst, where criticized describes it neutrally.

    A federal judge on Monday blasted the Department of Justice for "weaponization" as he dismissed its case accusing two…

    Used byCNBC (Center)

Words quoted from someone else (2)Hide the quoted words

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

  • Partisan shorthand

    Quoted

    Biden family corruption probeMore neutral: Hunter Biden laptop investigation

    The phrase names the probe by the conclusion that it concerned family corruption, a framing the headline attributes to the Justice Department rather than stating as fact.

    …dismisses case against former FBI officials who DOJ believes hampered Biden family corruption probe

    Quoted byCNN (Left)

    These are Department of Justice’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Partisan shorthand

    Quoted

    weaponizationMore neutral: political misuse of the justice system, as the judge said

    The term is a charge of political misuse of the justice system that one side uses as shorthand; it is quoted from the judge, but the outlet presents it as the ruling’s central finding.

    …Judge Zia Faruqui said the case "cannot be described as anything other than weaponization" of the Justice Department.

    Quoted byNew York Post (Right)

    These are Zia Faruqui’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

10 outlets

Leads with

  • judge’s weaponization finding
  • link to the Trump administration
  • lack of evidence for the false-statement charges
  • midterm election timing
See the 10 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • Raw StoryFar Left

    Judge Loaded verb“slams”Makes the judge’s criticism sound like an attack, where criticizes states it without added force.More neutral: criticizesDisagree with this highlight? Trump's 'weaponization' as he kills DOJ's Hunter Biden case

    U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui threw out the case against two former FBI officials accused of lying about the Hunter Biden investigations, calling it “weaponization” of federal law enforcement. …

    Read at Raw Story (opens in a new tab)
  • NBC NewsLeft

    Judge dismisses case against ex-FBI agents accused on lying to Congress in Hunter Biden probe

    A judge dismissed a criminal complaint against a pair of former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about what they knew about the Hunter Biden investigation, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to NBC News.

    Read at NBC News (opens in a new tab)
  • MS NOWFar Left

    Judge rejects charges against former FBI agents who worked on the Hunter Biden case

    “What has transpired here cannot be described as anything other than weaponization,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui wrote.

    Read at MS NOW (opens in a new tab)
  • CBS NewsLeft

    Case dismissed against 2 ex-FBI officials in Hunter Biden probe

    The two former FBI officials, Nicole Floris and Bradley Benavides, were accused of falsely suggesting to Congress that they weren't aware of the federal investigations surrounding Hunter Biden.

    Read at CBS News (opens in a new tab)
  • ABC NewsLeft

    Judge dismisses DOJ case against two ex-FBI agents who investigated Hunter Biden

    A judge has dismissed the DOJ's federal false statements case against two former FBI agents accused of lying to Congress about past investigations of Hunter Biden.

    Read at ABC News (opens in a new tab)
  • The New York TimesLeft

    Judge Throws Out Charges Against Former F.B.I. Officials

    The magistrate judge, Zia M. Faruqui, said the case was a rushed, political prosecution ordered by the White House intended to affect the midterm elections.

    Read at The New York Times (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from The New York Times
  • The New RepublicFar Left

    Judge Sensational language“Deals Trump Massive Loss”Frames the dismissal as a defeat for Trump, which the ruling itself does not state.More neutral: Judge dismisses case against two ex-FBI officialsDisagree with this highlight? Over Hunter Biden Laptop “Obsession”

    A federal judge on Monday tossed the Justice Department’s latest attempt to punish two former FBI officials who were involved in the Hunter Biden laptop investigation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia M. …

    Read at The New Republic (opens in a new tab)
  • CNNLeft

    Judge dismisses case against former FBI officials who DOJ believes hampered Partisan shorthand“Biden family corruption probe”The phrase names the probe by the conclusion that it concerned family corruption, a framing the headline attributes to the Justice Department rather than stating as fact.More neutral: Hunter Biden laptop investigationThese are Department of Justice’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?

    A federal judge has thrown out a case against two former FBI officials who were charged with lying to Congress as part of a probe that focused on whether FBI investigators sought to minimize allegations of Biden family corruption and evidence related to Hunter Biden’s laptop. …

    Read at CNN (opens in a new tab)
  • The Boston GlobeFar LeftAssociated Press report

    Judge dismisses complaint against 2 ex-FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about Hunter Biden

    WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday dismissed a criminal complaint against two former FBI officials accused of making false statements to Congress about Hunter Biden, saying the investigation that produced the charges was rushed, overtly political and dogged by “critical …

    Read at The Boston Globe (opens in a new tab)

    Also published by HuffPost and PBS NewsHour. It counts once.

  • HuffPostFar LeftAssociated Press report

    Judge Dismisses Complaint Against Ex-FBI Agents Accused Of Lying About Hunter Biden

    HuffPost published a report that is shown in full at The Boston Globe. The headline is the one HuffPost gave it.

    Read at HuffPost (opens in a new tab)

From the center

6 outlets

Leads with

  • dismissal and lack of probable cause
  • judge’s weaponization criticism
  • possible appeal or new indictment
  • midterm election timing
See the 6 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • Straight Arrow NewsCenter

    Charges against FBI agents charged in Hunter Biden laptop case dismissed

    A federal judge on Monday dismissed charges made against two former FBI agents who investigated the Hunter Biden laptop case.

    Read at Straight Arrow News (opens in a new tab)
  • CNBCCenter

    Judge tosses DOJ case against ex-FBI officials accused of lying about Hunter Biden probe: Reports

    Judge Zia Faruqui suggested the prosecution of ex-officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides was rushed to come out ahead of the midterm election.

    Read at CNBC (opens in a new tab)
  • NewsNationCenter

    Judge tosses charges against ex-FBI agents in Hunter Biden laptop case

    Read at NewsNation (opens in a new tab)
  • The HillCenter

    Federal judge dismisses case against ex-FBI officials accused of lying about Biden laptop probe

    A federal judge on Monday dismissed charges against two former FBI officials who were accused of lying to Congress about their involvement in the federal investigation into Hunter Biden's laptop. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)
  • Roll CallCenter

    Judge dismisses suit alleging FBI officials lied to Congress as ‘rush job’

    A federal magistrate judge on Monday threw out a case accusing two former FBI officials of lying to Congress, criticizing it as rushed, flawed and politically motivated. During an hourlong hearing, Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui for the U.S. …

    Read at Roll Call (opens in a new tab)
  • PBS NewsHourCenterAssociated Press report

    Judge dismisses charges against ex-FBI agents accused of lying about Hunter Biden, citing 'weaponization'

    PBS NewsHour published a report that is shown in full at The Boston Globe. The headline is the one PBS NewsHour gave it.

    Read at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)

From the right

7 outlets

Leads with

  • Hunter Biden laptop background
  • dismissal as a setback to the Justice Department
  • grand jury setbacks in the district
  • accusation that the prosecution was Trump administration weaponization
See the 7 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • RedStateFar Right

    Trump DOJ's Hunter Biden Case Just Took a Nasty Turn, and the Judge Did Not Hold Back

    The effort by the Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) to hold two former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials accountable for allegedly lying to Congress about Hunter Biden just hit a brick wall, courtesy of a federal judge who accused federal prosecutors of political …

    Read at RedState (opens in a new tab)
  • The Epoch TimesFar Right

    Judge Dismisses Charges Against FBI Officials Involved With Hunter Biden Investigation

    Officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    Read at The Epoch Times (opens in a new tab)
  • Daily MailRight

    Judge Sensational language“spectacularly”An adverb of drama that adds no fact; the ruling can be stated without it.More neutral: Judge dismisses case against two former FBI officialsDisagree with this highlight? drops Loaded modifier“Trump-backed”Ties the prosecution to Trump through a link the headline does not spell out.More neutral: Justice DepartmentDisagree with this highlight? prosecution of two FBI agents accused of Hunter Biden laptop 'cover-up'

    US Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui Loaded verb“scolded”Presents the judge’s criticism as a reprimand, more than the verb criticized conveys.More neutral: criticizedDisagree with this highlight? federal prosecutors for bringing the false statements charges against the former FBI officials

    Read at Daily Mail (opens in a new tab)
  • Washington ExaminerRight

    Judge dismisses criminal complaint against two ex-FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about Hunter Biden

    A federal judge Monday dismissed a criminal complaint against two former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about their knowledge of investigations involving Hunter Biden, dealing a setback to the Justice Department after three days of tedious hearings last week. U.S. …

    Read at Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab)
  • New York PostRight

    DC federal judge tosses case against FBI officials accused of lying about Hunter Biden laptop

    US Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui said the case "cannot be described as anything other than Partisan shorthand“weaponization”The term is a charge of political misuse of the justice system that one side uses as shorthand; it is quoted from the judge, but the outlet presents it as the ruling’s central finding.More neutral: political misuse of the justice system, as the judge saidThese are Zia Faruqui’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?" of the Justice Department.

    Read at New York Post (opens in a new tab)
  • Fox NewsFar Right

    Judge tosses case against ex-FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about Hunter Biden investigation

    A federal judge dismissed the case against two former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about the Hunter Biden investigation, delivering a Sensational language“blistering rebuke”The phrase adds dramatic force beyond the reported fact that the judge criticized the prosecution.More neutral: sharp criticismDisagree with this highlight? of the prosecution Monday and accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing the justice system. U.S. …

    Read at Fox News (opens in a new tab)
  • Just the NewsFar Right

    Judge dismisses complaint against ex-FBI officials over testimony on Hunter Biden

    Hunter Biden's laptop was the subject of Sensational language“bombshell reporting”The word adds drama to the background reporting without adding a fact about this case.More neutral: reportingDisagree with this highlight? from the New York Post prior to the 2020 presidential election.

    Read at Just the News (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from Just the News

The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    3 hr 41 min later

    Its first report, Nov 2, 10:49 AM EST

  • Center

    First to report

    Roll Call, Nov 2, 7:07 AM EST

  • Right

    2 hr 51 min later

    Its first report, Nov 2, 9:58 AM EST

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. Roll CallCenterNov 2, 7:07 AM EST
  2. Fox NewsFar RightNov 2, 9:58 AM EST
  3. The HillCenterNov 2, 10:48 AM EST
  4. The Boston GlobeFar LeftNov 2, 10:49 AM EST
  5. CNNLeftNov 2, 10:50 AM EST
  6. HuffPostFar LeftNov 2, 10:53 AM EST
  7. The New RepublicFar LeftNov 2, 10:58 AM EST
  8. The New York TimesLeftNov 2, 11:00 AM EST
  9. New York PostRightNov 2, 11:04 AM EST
  10. NewsNationCenterNov 2, 11:09 AM EST
  11. ABC NewsLeftNov 2, 11:20 AM EST
  12. CBS NewsLeftNov 2, 11:22 AM EST
  13. MS NOWFar LeftNov 2, 11:26 AM EST
  14. Washington ExaminerRightNov 2, 11:29 AM EST
  15. NBC NewsLeftNov 2, 11:34 AM EST
  16. Raw StoryFar LeftNov 2, 11:34 AM EST
  17. Daily MailRightNov 2, 11:36 AM EST
  18. PBS NewsHourCenterNov 2, 11:38 AM EST
  19. CNBCCenterNov 2, 11:42 AM EST
  20. Straight Arrow NewsCenterNov 2, 12:00 PM EST
  21. The Epoch TimesFar RightNov 2, 12:13 PM EST
  22. RedStateFar RightNov 2, 12:15 PM EST

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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