In an effort to salvage the Republicans' impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan faced challenges when confronted with the damaging news regarding Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant. The growing realization that Republicans' impeachment case is built on falsehoods propagated by the Russian government seems to have left Jordan scrambling for answers.

During a recent exchange with CNN's Manu Raju, Jordan was asked about the significance of the FBI's FD-1023 form, which documented Smirnov's claims, now revealed to be entirely fabricated. Jordan had previously referred to the form as the "key" piece of evidence justifying impeachment proceedings against Biden. However, when pressed about its credibility, he insisted that it did not alter the "fundamental facts" implicating Biden's involvement in his son's business dealings during his vice presidency.

The truth, however, contradicts Jordan's assertions. The Justice Department disclosed that Smirnov had admitted to cooperating with "officials associated with Russian intelligence" in concocting the narrative surrounding Hunter Biden. Smirnov revealed that he had been in communication with four top Russian officials, including the heads of the entities they represent. This revelation highlights the extent to which the Russian government can infiltrate and undermine U.S. elections.

As a result of these revelations, Smirnov now faces charges of making false statements and creating false records. Republicans had heavily relied on Smirnov's allegations to build their case against Biden, particularly his alleged involvement with Ukrainian-owned Burisma Holdings. Yet, the indictment of Smirnov and the exposure of his ties to Russian intelligence raise serious doubts about the credibility of their claims.

Furthermore, Republican leaders, including Jordan, have been quietly removing references to Smirnov from their letters and requests related to the impeachment inquiry, signaling their awareness of the damage caused by their association with him. Legal experts predict a grim outcome for Jordan and other GOP representatives involved in perpetuating this conspiracy theory. Calls have been made for subpoenas to investigate the communications between Jordan, Chuck Grassley, James Comer, and Smirnov, as they could be material witnesses or potential co-conspirators.

The Republican Party's impeachment efforts against President Biden have been dealt a significant blow with the discrediting of their star witness, Alexander Smirnov. The evidence suggests that the GOP's reliance on Russian disinformation has compromised the integrity of their case. With doubts growing about the viability of their impeachment inquiry, it remains to be seen how the Republicans will move forward in their efforts to undermine the Biden administration.