FBI Launches Criminal Investigations Into Former CIA Director John Brennan and Former FBI Director James Comey
The FBI has opened criminal investigations into former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey, focusing on potential wrongdoing related to the Trump–Russia probe, according to multiple reports citing Department of Justice sources.
The investigations reportedly center on allegations that Brennan and Comey made false statements to Congress and engaged in misconduct during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The probe into Brennan was initiated following a referral by former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, who provided evidence of alleged wrongdoing to FBI Director Kash Patel for potential prosecution.
Sources describe the interactions between Brennan and Comey as part of a “conspiracy,” which could expose the two former officials to a broad range of prosecutorial actions. While details about Comey’s investigation remain limited, the inquiry into Brennan includes scrutiny of his role in the creation of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), which concluded that Russia sought to influence the 2016 election in favor of then-candidate Donald Trump.
A recent declassified “lessons learned” review found procedural anomalies in the ICA’s production, highlighting that the inclusion of the Steele Dossier—a document containing unverified and widely discredited claims—undermined the credibility of key intelligence judgments. Brennan has previously testified that he did not believe the dossier should have been part of the ICA, though records indicate he pushed for its inclusion.
The investigations come amid ongoing debates about the politicization of intelligence during the Obama administration and the origins of the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” counterintelligence probe. The probe, which began in 2016, investigated possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia but ultimately found no criminal conspiracy.
Neither the FBI nor the CIA has commented on the investigations. Brennan and Comey have not responded to requests for comment.
The developments mark a significant escalation in scrutiny of former intelligence leaders and underscore continuing tensions over the handling of the 2016 election interference investigation.