Trump DOJ Launches Criminal Investigations Into Brennan and Comey Amid Political Blowback
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has quietly launched criminal investigations into two of his long-standing political adversaries: former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey. The move, confirmed by a DOJ spokesperson on Tuesday, has reignited concerns over the politicization of federal law enforcement and the retribution-fueled undercurrents of Trump’s second term.
Though details remain murky, the DOJ confirmed the existence of active investigations into Brennan and Comey in response to a Fox News article, which first reported the probes. “We do not comment on ongoing investigations,” the DOJ said, declining to elaborate further. Brennan has denied being contacted by the DOJ or CIA and says he is unaware of any specific allegations. Comey’s legal team offered no comment, and the FBI declined to respond.
A Pattern of Retaliation?
Both men have been regular targets of Trump’s public ire. Comey was fired by Trump in May 2017 amid the FBI’s investigation into Russian election interference. Brennan, who led the CIA during the Obama administration, has frequently criticized Trump’s foreign policy and alleged ties to Moscow. Trump once revoked Brennan’s security clearance and has called him “a political hack.”
Sources familiar with the situation say that the CIA’s current director, John Ratcliffe, initiated a criminal referral against Brennan. The referral followed the public release of a long-delayed internal review of the 2017 intelligence community assessment which concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin interfered in the 2016 election to aid Trump’s campaign. Ratcliffe has publicly questioned that conclusion, despite the unanimous consensus from U.S. intelligence agencies.
As for Comey, no specific conduct has been publicly identified to justify the new investigation. The Fox News article mentioned his role in the early handling of the now-debunked Steele Dossier and the 2016 counterintelligence probe into the Trump campaign. However, any related conduct would likely fall outside the five-year federal statute of limitations.
The Durham Precedent
This is not the first time the DOJ has scrutinized Brennan and Comey. Former Attorney General William Barr appointed Special Counsel John Durham in 2019 to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia probe. That years-long investigation resulted in a single criminal conviction of a low-level FBI lawyer, and Durham did not charge Brennan or Comey with any wrongdoing. Still, many Trump allies viewed the effort as validating their belief that the 2016 Russia investigation was politically motivated.
The new DOJ investigations suggest that the Trump administration is not finished seeking accountability—or political payback.
Politics at the Core
The investigations come as Trump’s Justice Department and FBI face fierce criticism from conservative media outlets over their handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. A DOJ memo released this week reaffirmed the longstanding conclusion that Epstein died by suicide in federal custody in 2019, disappointing Trump supporters who had expected the release of explosive new evidence.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi both Trump loyalists—have come under fire for mishandling the Epstein file release and stoking speculation about a nonexistent “client list.” Their credibility with the far-right media ecosystem has eroded, and some observers see the timing of the Brennan and Comey investigations as an attempt to re-ignite MAGA base enthusiasm and shift attention away from recent political missteps.
Adding fuel to the fire, the Justice Department has quietly established a “Weaponization Working Group” to review past investigations into Trump and his allies. According to internal sources, the group has already overseen the termination of several DOJ employees involved in those cases.
Meanwhile, Trump has doubled down on loyalty to his base. On his first day back in office, he pardoned individuals convicted of crimes stemming from the January 6 Capitol insurrection—many of whom had been charged with attacking law enforcement and disrupting the certification of the 2020 election.
No Charges Yet, But a Clear Message
While no formal charges have been filed against either Brennan or Comey, the announcement alone sends a powerful signal. Trump has made it clear that his administration is not only willing to revisit past political battles but also prepared to criminalize them.
Critics warn that these investigations threaten to undermine the independence of federal law enforcement and further entrench a culture of political vengeance in Washington.
“This is not about justice,” said a former senior DOJ official. “It’s about power—and making sure the next person who challenges this president thinks twice.”
Not much more you can say about a bully and vindictive child.