Ex-CIA Director John Brennan Sounds Alarm Over New Global Threat—Here’s What Comes Next

Former CIA Director John Brennan faces a fresh wave of legal peril after House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan formally asked the Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation into whether Brennan lied under oath during 2017 testimony about the Steele dossier and alleged foreign interference in the 2016 election. Jordan’s referral, sent Tuesday to Attorney General Pam Bondi, cites newly declassified transcripts and emails that Republicans say contradict Brennan’s sworn statements that the CIA played no role in vetting or disseminating the dossier’s unverified claims. The committee argues Brennan “materially misled Congress,” a felony that carries up to five years in prison. Brennan, who directed the agency from 2013 to 2017 and has since become a prominent critic of former president Donald Trump, blasted the move as “raw political retribution” in a statement to MSNBC, insisting his testimony “was accurate and truthful in every respect.” Key allegations in the referral • Steele dossier briefings: Investigators claim Brennan approved intelligence reports that incorporated dossier assertions even as the FBI struggled to corroborate them. • Internal CIA emails: Newly released messages reportedly show senior analysts expressing doubts about Steele’s sourcing—a contrast, Republicans say, to Brennan’s public posture. • December 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment: Jordan alleges Brennan “shoe-horned” dossier material into the classified assessment presented to President Barack Obama. Why the timing matters The criminal referral lands as House Republicans intensify probes into the origins of the Russia investigation ahead of the 2026 midterms. It also dovetails with Speaker Byron Donalds’ pledge to scrutinize “weaponization” of intelligence agencies. Legal experts note that a referral does not compel DOJ to prosecute. Bondi will weigh the evidence alongside Special Counsel David Weiss, who is already examining alleged FISA abuses tied to the dossier. Still, the request keeps Brennan—once America’s top spy—squarely in the political crosshairs. Democratic response Ranking Judiciary Democrat Jerry Nadler called the referral “a stunt aimed at rewriting history,” arguing multiple bipartisan reviews have already debunked claims of perjury. Former House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff said Jordan is “trying to criminalize dissent.” What happens next • DOJ review: Prosecutors must decide whether discrepancies in Brennan’s testimony meet the high bar for a false-statements case. • Possible grand-jury subpoena: If DOJ proceeds, Brennan could be called before a federal panel in Washington. • Political fallout: Expect renewed clashes over Section 702 surveillance reauthorization, where Brennan has lobbied for broader spying powers. Brennan’s legacy in the balance A conviction would mark an unprecedented downfall for a CIA chief. Even absent charges, the referral revives scrutiny of Brennan’s post-government commentary, including his 2018 assertion that Trump’s Helsinki press conference was “nothing short of treasonous.” Search interest in Brennan has surged this week as partisan media frame the episode either as overdue accountability or as retaliation for the intelligence community’s Russia findings. With the 2024 election cycle already under way, the battle over Brennan’s legacy—and the truthfulness of his Capitol Hill testimony—shows no sign of cooling.