Former CIA boss John Brennan is suddenly in a celebratory mood — and not because he’s been cleared of anything. Instead, the Justice Department appears to have quietly hit the brakes on a key part of its investigation into him, swapping hard-edged subpoenas for polite requests to chat.
Subpoenas that could have forced witnesses into a grand jury were issued… and then just as quickly yanked. According to multiple reports, including the Associated Press, investigators reversed course within days, opting instead for voluntary interviews. Translation: from legal muscle to “hey, can we talk?” Not exactly the kind of pivot that screams confidence.
Brennan, never one to shy away from the spotlight, popped up on MSNBC to respond — and didn’t miss the chance to pat himself on the back.
“The various actions that were taken by senior officials at that time have been scrutinized over and over again, and it’s clear that this administration, the Trump administration, wants to continue to try to assert that there was some wrongdoing, and I am quite proud of what we did to uncover and expose Russian interference in that 2016 election, just the way the Russians have attempted to interfere in a lot of elections, not just here in the United States, but abroad.”
“Quite proud,” he says — even as questions about how that investigation was conducted refuse to go away.
He leaned hard into defending the Justice Department’s old guard while taking a swipe at its current direction:
“And throughout my career, I worked closely with a lot individuals in the Department of Justice who had the highest integrity and were really dedicated public servants to try to make sure that the department’s name was actually reflected in their actions, the Department of Justice. And speaking to a number of people who have served in the Department of Justice over the years, they’re shocked, they’re appalled, they’re dismayed, they’re worried, they’re very troubled by what they see happening.”
That’s a lot of pearl-clutching for a guy whose own role is under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, there’s another twist: veteran prosecutor Joseph diGenova has reportedly stepped in to take over the Brennan inquiry. And let’s just say, he’s not known for pulling punches. The probe itself is one of several targeting figures seen as political opponents of President Donald Trump — a pattern critics on both sides have flagged as suspiciously convenient. Brennan, for his part, insists he’s the one being targeted.
“Part of this is to harass, to try to hurt individuals, reputationally, professionally, financially,” he said. “Trying to keep the story alive to deflect from other issues and challenges that they face. Again, I’m not surprised by this. I’m very dismayed and disappointed by it.”
Harassment? Or accountability?
