By Newspot Nigeria Global Desk
In a development shaking the U.S. political establishment, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched criminal investigations into former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey over alleged misconduct related to the Trump-Russia probe, multiple Department of Justice (DOJ) sources have confirmed to Fox News Digital.
According to the report, CIA Director John Ratcliffe formally referred Brennan to FBI Director Kash Patel for criminal investigation, citing evidence that he allegedly misled Congress and politicized intelligence processes. Ratcliffe’s referral reportedly followed a newly declassified internal CIA review, which criticized the integrity and procedural handling of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) that concluded Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump.
Key Allegations:
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Brennan allegedly pushed for the discredited Steele dossier to be included in the ICA, despite internal CIA objections labeling it as “internet rumor.”
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A declassified email showed that Brennan ignored warnings from top analysts that including the dossier would “jeopardize the credibility of the entire paper.”
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Brennan later testified to Congress in 2023, claiming the CIA opposed including the dossier — a statement now under scrutiny.
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DOJ sources described elements of the probe as having “conspiratorial characteristics,” suggesting potential broader prosecutorial implications.
As for James Comey, while details remain scarce, DOJ sources confirmed an active FBI investigation is underway into his actions surrounding the Russia probe, known as Crossfire Hurricane.
The 2017 ICA and subsequent investigations became controversial due to the use of the now-discredited Steele dossier, which was financed by the Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee (DNC) through opposition research firm Fusion GPS. Though not included in the body of the final ICA, the dossier appeared as an annex—reportedly at the insistence of senior FBI officials.
Background Context:
The Mueller Report in 2019 found no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials, and a later investigation by Special Counsel John Durham concluded that the FBI failed to uphold its legal obligations when launching the original probe. Durham pointed to a Clinton campaign strategy to link Trump to Russian operatives as part of an election distraction.
Notably, a 2016 intelligence briefing by Brennan to President Barack Obama — later declassified — revealed he warned that a Clinton advisor was “stirring up” a scandal tying Trump to Russia to shift public focus from Clinton’s email issues. That briefing was also forwarded to Comey and other senior officials under the subject “Crossfire Hurricane.”
With mounting calls for accountability, the White House has weighed in, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating, “President Trump was right — again. Those who engaged in this political scandal must be held accountable.”
The investigations into Brennan and Comey now mark one of the most significant reversals in recent American intelligence history, raising questions not only about politicized intelligence, but also the potential legal exposure of Obama-era officials.
Newspot Nigeria will continue to follow this developing story closely.
