John Brennan Files Suit Against Trump Administration

Former CIA Director John Brennan has taken legal action against President Donald Trump and his administration, seeking a court order to ensure the preservation of records from investigations that he claims are aimed at him.

In the complaint, Brennan’s attorneys noted, “Given these strong indicia of vindictiveness, Director Brennan expects that he will forcefully challenge any eventual indictment as the product of an unconstitutionally vindictive and selective prosecution.” They further expressed concerns regarding the government’s unreliable history with records preservation, stating that Brennan fears crucial documents could be lost before a court review.

Brennan, who served as CIA director from 2013 to 2017 under Barack Obama, is requesting the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to grant preliminary injunctive relief to safeguard his constitutional rights as the target of two investigations by the Department of Justice.

The investigations reportedly relate to his involvement in the 2017 assessment regarding alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Since 2017, Brennan has faced repeated demands from Trump for an investigation. He claims the DOJ began these probes “at the direct urging of President Trump,” referring to the alleged charges as “phantom criminal conduct.”

The lawsuit claims, “Regrettably, some in the current DOJ and Federal Bureau of Investigation leadership have acceded to that direction, and are converting the Justice Department into a tool of retribution against Director Brennan and the President’s other perceived adversaries.”

In October, Jim Jordan, the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, referred Brennan for criminal prosecution, alleging he knowingly provided false statements during a May 2023 interview about the Intelligence Community Assessment.

Now, Brennan is asking that the court preserve a variety of records, including emails, text messages, meeting notes, and any communications relating to criminal investigations concerning him. His complaint lists several administration officials as defendants, including Trump, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, and prosecutors in Florida overseeing the probes.

A DOJ spokesperson responded, “While we cannot comment on the existence, or lack thereof, of an investigation, it is certainly rich that John Brennan is accusing anyone of a ‘retribution campaign.’”