The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched criminal investigations into two of the most prominent figures from the Obama administration’s intelligence community, according to explosive new reporting that has sent shockwaves through Washington.
Former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan are now under criminal investigation by the bureau.
The probes focus on potential wrongdoing connected to the discredited Russian collusion investigation that plagued President Trump’s first term and dominated headlines for years.
These investigations mark a dramatic turn in the long-running saga surrounding the origins of the Russia probe.
The criminal referrals represent the most serious legal jeopardy faced by either former official since leaving their respective positions in the intelligence community.
DOJ sources revealed to Fox News that the investigations center on allegedly making false statements to Congress during testimony related to the Russia investigation.
The criminal referral for Brennan originated from CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who forwarded the matter to FBI Director Kash Patel for potential prosecution after conducting a comprehensive review of the intelligence community’s actions.
Director Patel received Ratcliffe’s referral and authorized the opening of a criminal investigation into Brennan following careful consideration of the evidence presented.
DOJ sources declined to provide additional specifics about the scope or timeline of the probe, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
The timing of these investigations coincides with renewed scrutiny of the intelligence community’s handling of the Russia probe.
Legal experts suggest that false statements to Congress charges could carry significant penalties, including potential prison time for those convicted.
The FBI has simultaneously opened a separate criminal investigation into James Comey, the former FBI director who oversaw the bureau during the initial phases of the Russia investigation.
Fox reported that sources familiar with the matter refused to elaborate on the details surrounding the former FBI director’s case, maintaining the same level of secrecy surrounding the Brennan probe.
Two sources with knowledge of the investigations characterized the actions of both former officials as constituting a “conspiracy.”
This designation could potentially expand the scope of the probes and lead to additional criminal charges beyond the initial false statements allegations.
The conspiracy designation suggests that investigators may be examining whether the two former officials coordinated their actions or testimonies.
Such coordination could result in more serious charges and longer potential sentences if prosecutions move forward.
Both Brennan and Comey declined to provide comment when contacted by Fox News, with their representatives citing the ongoing nature of the investigations.
The FBI has not issued an official statement regarding either investigation, following standard protocol for active criminal cases.
The silence from both former officials represents a stark contrast to their previously vocal public positions on the Russia investigation.
Both men have been frequent critics of President Trump and defenders of the intelligence community’s actions during the 2016 election period.
The Brennan investigation follows closely on the heels of a declassified CIA review that exposed significant problems with the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA)
The ICA alleged that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to benefit then-candidate Donald Trump, forming the basis for years of investigation and political controversy.
This declassified review represents the most comprehensive internal examination of the intelligence community’s actions during the 2016 election period.
CIA officials determined that the ICA was rushed and contained “procedural anomalies” that deviated from established intelligence standards.
The review found that the assessment failed to meet basic intelligence community protocols, Resist the Mainstream previously highlighted.
The declassified review revealed that agency heads made the decision to include the infamous Steele Dossier in the ICA despite it running “counter to fundamental tradecraft principles.”
The Steele dossier contained numerous unverified and unsourced claims about President Trump.
The document was funded by Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee, serving as the foundation for the Russian collusion probe that has since been thoroughly discredited.
Declassified records from the review show that Brennan personally advocated for including the dossier in the 2017 ICA. However, Trending Politics (TP) outlined that Brennan testified before the House Judiciary Committee in May 2023 that the dossier should not have been included in the intelligence report.
A source familiar with the investigation told Fox News that Ratcliffe was “not surprised” by Brennan’s conduct.
The source indicated that Brennan had “violated the public’s trust and should be held accountable for it.”
The false statements component of the investigation stems from a recently declassified email sent to Brennan in December 2016.
The former deputy CIA director warned that including the dossier in the ICA could threaten “the credibility of the entire paper.”
Despite these internal objections, the CIA review found that “Brennan showed a preference for narrative consistency over analytical soundness.”
When confronted with specific flaws in the dossier by mission center leaders with extensive operational and analytical experience, Brennan appeared more influenced by the document’s alignment with existing theories than by legitimate tradecraft concerns.
The review documented that “Brennan ultimately formalized his position in writing, stating that ‘my bottomline is that I believe that the information warrants inclusion in the report.’”
This written position directly contradicts his subsequent congressional testimony.
During his 2023 testimony before Congress, Brennan stated that “The CIA was very much opposed to having any reference or inclusion of the Steele dossier in the Intelligence Community Assessment.”
He further testified that “they sent over a copy of the dossier to say that this was going to be separate from the rest of that assessment,” per TP.
The investigations represent a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of the Russian collusion probe.
NPR reported that Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded his investigation with “no evidence” to support claims of Russian collusion with the Trump campaign, after the probe significantly hampered President Trump’s first term in office.
The post FBI Opens Criminal Investigations Into Obama-Era Intelligence Chiefs Over Russia Probe Lies appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
Click this link for the original source of this article.
Author: Jordyn M.
This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://resistthemainstream.org and its author. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu.
