Former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey are officially under criminal investigation, according to Justice Department sources who spoke to Fox News Digital.
The probe centers on false statements made to Congress, the inclusion of the fraudulent Steele dossier in U.S. intelligence reports, and what sources describe as a “conspiracy” inside the intelligence community to undermine then-candidate Donald Trump.
Ratcliffe Sends Criminal Referral — FBI Opens Case Against Brennan
Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe referred Brennan’s conduct to FBI Director Kash Patel for potential prosecution.
DOJ sources confirmed a criminal investigation into Brennan is active and underway, with a focus on false statements made to Congress and internal misconduct during the creation of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA).
That ICA claimed Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump, but a recent internal review found the process was rushed, politicized, and violated basic tradecraft.
The report specifically exposed Brennan’s role in pushing the Clinton-funded Steele dossier into the ICA — a move his own CIA deputies warned would jeopardize the credibility of the entire report.
“Despite these objections, Brennan showed a preference for narrative consistency over analytical soundness,” the CIA review concluded.
Brennan Lied to Congress
Brennan testified in May 2023 that he opposed including the Steele dossier in the ICA. But the record now shows he demanded it.
“My bottom line is that I believe the information warrants inclusion,” Brennan wrote at the time — a direct contradiction of his testimony.
This conflict has now become a central focus of the criminal investigation, sources confirmed.
Comey Also Under Investigation
While fewer details have emerged about Comey’s criminal probe, DOJ sources confirmed the investigation is active.
Two sources told Fox News Digital the FBI sees Brennan and Comey’s actions during the Russia investigation as part of a broader “conspiracy” — a label that could open up charges under federal conspiracy statutes.
Steele Dossier Was Political Propaganda
The infamous Steele dossier, filled with debunked allegations about Trump, was paid for by Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the DNC, funneled through Fusion GPS and law firm Perkins Coie.
Even at the time, the FBI knew Steele’s work had “limited corroboration” — yet they still used it to:
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Justify FISA warrants against Trump aide Carter Page
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Build the narrative that Trump was compromised
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Include it in assessments briefed to President Obama and VP Joe Biden
Declassified memos now confirm that senior officials knew it was unreliable.
Brennan Briefed Obama on Clinton’s Plot to Frame Trump
Declassified notes reveal that in July 2016, Brennan briefed Obama, Biden, Comey, Clapper, and Lynch on intel that Hillary Clinton had approved a plan to tie Trump to Russia as a political smear — to distract from her private email scandal.
This plan became the basis for Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI’s Trump–Russia probe launched on July 31, 2016.
Mueller Found Nothing — But the Damage Was Done
After nearly two years, Robert Mueller’s investigation failed to uncover any evidence of collusion or conspiracy between Trump and Russia.
Then came Special Counsel John Durham, who concluded that the FBI was manipulated by Clinton’s campaign and failed to act on intelligence showing they were being played.
“The FBI might then be the target of an effort to manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes,” Durham warned.
