Justice Department and Intelligence Oversight

Rep. Jim Jordan, R‑Ohio, says the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan is “heating up,” citing new DOJ requests for congressional testimony records as evidence that the probe is gaining momentum. Speaking Wednesday on Fox News’ “Hannity,” Jordan tied the inquiry to his October criminal referral alleging Brennan lied in 2023 House Judiciary testimony by denying that the CIA used the Steele dossier in preparing the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment on Russian election interference and by claiming the agency opposed including it. According to the Associated Press, Brennan’s lawyers say DOJ has informed them Brennan is a target of the investigation, though they argue they have not been given any “legally justifiable basis” for the case. Jordan alleges Brennan pushed to change late‑2016 intelligence conclusions about Trump–Russia collusion and says DOJ has now sought transcripts from the House Intelligence Committee, while Brennan and former DNI James Clapper have publicly called accusations that they promoted a contrived pro‑Trump‑Russia narrative “patently false.” The clash keeps the long‑running fight over the origins and integrity of the Trump‑Russia probe alive and raises the stakes for how aggressively the Trump‑era Justice Department will pursue potential perjury or misconduct charges against senior former intelligence officials.