John Brennan faces renewed scrutiny over past CIA controversies

Former CIA Director John Brennan is back in the hot seat with a criminal referral that could make even the most seasoned Washington insider sweat.

Current CIA Director John Ratcliffe has sent a referral to FBI Director Kash Patel regarding potential wrongdoing by Brennan tied to the Trump-Russia investigation, while echoes of a 2014 scandal involving CIA spying on Senate computers resurface to haunt him, as Just the News reports.

Let’s rewind to 2014, when Brennan’s CIA found itself accused of snooping on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) during an investigation into the agency’s post-9/11 detention and interrogation program, often criticized as crossing ethical lines. The issue exploded when then-chairwoman Sen. Dianne Feinstein took to the Senate floor, alleging the CIA had rummaged through a network meant solely for SSCI staff.

Brennan’s 2014 denial under fire

Brennan, quick to defend his agency, told MSNBC, “Let me assure you that the CIA in no way was spying on the SSCI.” Well, that aged like milk in the sun, as a CIA inspector general report later confirmed unauthorized access to SSCI shared drives by agency employees. Turns out, denying reality doesn’t make it disappear.

The report, released in summary form in mid-2014 and fully by early 2015, detailed how five CIA staffers, including attorneys and IT personnel, improperly accessed the restricted network. No real-time interception of communications occurred, but stored data, including staff emails, was reviewed — an overreach that smells of bureaucratic arrogance.

Feinstein didn’t hold back, stating in 2014 that the CIA’s actions violated “separation of powers principles.” If that’s not a constitutional slap in the face, what is? Yet, Brennan’s apology came only after the inspector general’s findings forced his hand, raising questions about sincerity.

Accountability dodged in prior scandal

Adding insult to injury, Brennan set up an accountability board, led by former White House counsel Bob Bauer and Sen. Evan Bayh, which recommended no disciplinary action for the CIA personnel involved. The board’s report, accepted by Brennan’s deputy Avril Haines, essentially gave a free pass to those who overstepped. Talk about a hall pass for bad behavior.

Even more eyebrow-raising, evidence from the 2015 inspector general report suggested Brennan might have known about some improper actions before his public denials in early 2014. A mid-January meeting with a CIA lawyer reportedly tipped him off to potential issues, yet he still played the “nothing to see here” card. Actions have consequences—or at least they should.

Then-President Barack Obama and his administration stood firmly by Brennan during the 2014 fiasco, with Obama himself expressing “full confidence” at a press conference. White House press secretaries repeatedly echoed this support, dismissing concerns about Brennan’s credibility. Loyalty is admirable, but blind loyalty to a flawed leader risks eroding public trust.

Fast forward to Russiagate fallout

Fast forward to the present, and Brennan’s past seems to be catching up with him in a new controversy tied to the Trump-Russia collusion probe. Ratcliffe’s recent “lessons learned” review slams Brennan for prioritizing anti-Trump narratives over solid analysis in the 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), which claimed high confidence that Vladimir Putin aimed to boost Trump’s election chances.

The review particularly critiques Brennan’s push to include the now-infamous Steele dossier in the ICA, a document riddled with unverified claims. Ratcliffe’s criminal referral to the FBI, though details remain under wraps, likely centers on whether Brennan misled Congress about these matters during testimonies in 2020 and 2023.

With a statute of limitations stretching potentially to 2028 for statements made to the House Judiciary Committee, Brennan isn’t out of the woods yet. The referral signals that some in government are finally willing to hold powerful figures to account, even if it’s years after the fact. Better late than never, right?

Past, present collide for Brennan

Back in 2014, the SSCI’s report on the CIA’s interrogation program concluded that enhanced techniques were based on exaggerated effectiveness claims, a finding disputed by Republicans like then-Sen. Marco Rubio, who argued the program saved lives. The unresolved legal battles over 9/11 masterminds like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed at Guantanamo Bay still linger, tainted by these same interrogation controversies.

Brennan’s memoir reflects on the 2014 scandal with a dismissive tone, claiming the “myth” of CIA spying persists. Sorry, Mr. Brennan, but confirmed inspector general reports aren’t myths—they’re receipts. Trying to rewrite history won’t erase the paper trail.

So here we stand, with Brennan facing scrutiny on two fronts: a past marked by overreach and denials, and a present where his role in the Russia probe could land him in legal hot water. If there’s a lesson here, it’s that accountability isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a necessity, especially for those who wield immense power behind closed doors. Let’s hope this time, the truth doesn’t get buried under bureaucratic excuses.