Officials Who Probed Trump Now Face Scrutiny
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has initiated steps to scrutinize former officials involved in investigating connections between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia, signaling a possible escalation of the president’s long-promised retribution against perceived political opponents.
According to officials familiar with the matter, CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred former CIA Director John Brennan to the FBI, accusing him of lying to Congress. Separately, the FBI is reportedly reviewing former FBI Director James Comey’s role in the Russia inquiry, though details about that investigation remain unclear.
Focus on Brennan and Comey
Ratcliffe, a staunch defender of President Trump and critic of his predecessors, submitted the referral against Brennan following a recent CIA review of the agency’s 2016 assessment of Russian election interference. That internal review criticized Brennan’s management of the intelligence analysis, particularly his support for including allegations from the so-called Steele Dossier in the final report.
Brennan has previously testified that the dossier did not influence the assessment’s conclusions. In his memoir, he maintained that he opposed incorporating the dossier into the core analysis and supported analysts who shared that view. The recent CIA review, however, claims Brennan appeared influenced by the dossier’s alignment with his existing views.
Comey, who publicly disclosed FBI inquiries into Trump and Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign, has long been a target of Trump’s ire. It is unclear whether the current inquiry involves his testimony to Congress, his handling of the Clinton email investigation, or other actions.
Political Backdrop and Possible Outcomes
The investigations come as Trump allies have pushed for accountability against officials involved in what the president has called a “Russia hoax.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt supported the actions in an interview, calling the investigations necessary to address what she described as “corruption at the highest levels,” though she offered no evidence to substantiate those claims.
President Trump, when asked, said he knew “nothing about it other than what I read today” but described Brennan and Comey as “very dishonest people.”
It remains uncertain whether the scrutiny will result in charges. Justice Department officials declined to comment, citing a policy against discussing ongoing investigations. Legal experts have also noted that statutes of limitations and evidentiary hurdles could limit the chances of prosecution.
History of Tensions
Trump has previously sought to direct the Justice Department to prosecute Comey and Clinton, according to former aides. In 2018, White House counsel Donald McGahn warned Trump against such moves, citing legal and political risks.
In May, Trump also criticized Comey after a controversial social media post from the former FBI director that the president interpreted as a veiled threat, though Comey denied any wrongdoing.
Brennan, who endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race and has often criticized Trump, has not publicly responded to the referral. Former intelligence officials dismissed the move as politically motivated.
Broader Context
The CIA’s internal review did not dispute the 2016 assessment’s central conclusion — that Russia interfered in the election to favor Trump — but faulted Brennan for his leadership during the analysis.
Ed Martin, who leads a Justice Department task force on alleged government “weaponization,” suggested that exposing officials, even without indictments, aligns with the administration’s goals of accountability.
