Two former FBI officials charged with lying to Congress about the Hunter Biden laptop face a preliminary hearing Tuesday. Both deny wrongdoing.
Why it matters: Prosecutors brought the case by criminal complaint rather than grand jury indictment. That route is unusual and is expected to be central to the defense challenge.
Where they split: Coverage divides over whether the case mainly tests FBI conduct in 2020 or reflects the Justice Department using prosecutions for political ends before the midterms.
Left coverage, 6 sources: The left sees the case as the latest of the Justice Department's politically charged actions before the midterms, aimed at a disbanded task force Republicans long opposed.
Right coverage, 10 sources: The right sees detailed allegations that FBI officials hid their role in calling the laptop Russian disinformation, while questioning why prosecutors skipped a grand jury.
What’s next: Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui set Tuesday's hearing over prosecutors' request for more time. The government needs to show only probable cause.
