Former CIA Director John Brennan has strongly criticized ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigations into himself and former FBI Director James Comey, calling them politically motivated. The Justice Department confirmed the probes but offered no further details. Fox News first reported the investigation, citing anonymous sources claiming the pair were being scrutinized for their roles in the intelligence community's handling of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.
In an interview with MSNBC, Brennan stated he had received no contact from the DOJ, FBI, or CIA, and said he only learned of the investigation through media leaks. He emphasized that such leaks undermine the integrity of the justice system and accused the Trump-aligned efforts of politicizing national security.
Brennan led the CIA when the U.S. intelligence community concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin interfered in the 2016 election to boost Donald Trump’s chances against Hillary Clinton. That assessment was later affirmed by a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report in 2018, chaired at the time by Marco Rubio, now Secretary of State under Trump. However, the report did not find evidence of a coordinated effort between the Trump campaign and Moscow.
Special Counsel John Durham, appointed during Trump’s presidency, previously investigated the actions of Brennan and Comey and found no criminal wrongdoing.
Comey has not publicly commented on the new investigations. The probes come amid renewed scrutiny of the DOJ and FBI from Trump supporters, particularly over conspiracy theories involving the death of Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump denied prior knowledge of the investigations but labeled Brennan and Comey "crooked" and suggested they "may have to pay a price."
The controversy highlights ongoing political tensions surrounding the intelligence community’s role in the Russia investigation and the enduring impact of the 2016 election.