Former Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking a court order to require officials to preserve records related to criminal investigations involving him. Brennan, who served as CIA director from 2013 to 2017 under President Barack Obama, requests preliminary injunctive relief from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to protect his constitutional rights as he is currently the target of two federal investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Brennan's attorneys claim that the DOJ initiated these investigations at the urging of President Trump, describing them as searches for 'phantom criminal conduct.' The court filing alleges that some DOJ and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) leaders have complied with this direction, turning the Justice Department into a tool for retribution against Brennan and other perceived adversaries of the President.
Reports indicate that the FBI has been questioning current and former CIA officials as part of a probe into Brennan's involvement in the intelligence community's assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Brennan has denied any wrongdoing and has defended the assessment that concluded Russia sought to aid Trump's candidacy.
The investigation reportedly focuses on whether the intelligence assessment was influenced by the Steele dossier, which contains unverified allegations about Trump's ties to Russia. Brennan's filing accuses the Trump administration of violating his constitutional rights and asserts that any resulting charges would be challenged as selective and vindictive prosecution.
Brennan's attorneys also claim that certain DOJ officials have violated prosecutorial norms, including making premature statements about his guilt and improperly managing the investigations. They request the court to mandate the preservation of all materials related to Brennan's legal challenges against potential criminal charges. The motion was filed on Wednesday and names Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as the defendant.
A DOJ spokesperson responded to the lawsuit, stating that it is 'rich' for Brennan to accuse anyone of a retribution campaign.