Two former senior FBI officials have been charged with allegedly making false statements to Congress about their involvement in investigations related to Hunter Biden’s laptop, in a case that is drawing national attention ahead of the November midterm elections.

The Justice Department announced Friday that Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides face one count each of making false statements. Both previously held leadership roles in the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force, which worked to counter foreign interference in U.S. elections.

According to prosecutors, the officials’ 2023 congressional testimony about their knowledge of FBI investigations involving Hunter Biden contradicted communications and other evidence gathered by investigators.

Both defendants appeared in federal court in Washington, D.C. Their lawyers deny wrongdoing and have criticized the prosecution, arguing that the charges are politically motivated and were brought years after the testimony in question.

The case revisits the controversy surrounding the laptop’s emergence shortly before the 2020 presidential election and the FBI’s handling of related investigations.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, where the court is expected to examine the basis for the allegations. The case is being closely watched because of its political implications and the timing of the charges.

The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.